Fountain Valley City Council Approves Housing Development

Fountain Valley – The Fountain Valley City Council has approved a significant housing development project on the site of the former Boomers! entertainment center located at 16800 Magnolia St. The decision, which was made in a 4-1 vote, comes after the Planning Commission’s initial approval of the project on July 11.

Despite objections raised by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), the council voted against an appeal that requested a new environmental impact report prior to the project’s commencement. Councilmember Patrick Harper noted there was not sufficient reason to reconsider the Planning Commission’s decision.

The project plans to construct two seven-story residential buildings in addition to two seven-story parking structures. Once completed, it is expected to provide 657 residential apartment units and 4,460 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The development will also include a total of 980 parking spaces to accommodate residents and guests.

Among the concerns voiced by the community were issues related to traffic, parking, and potential environmental impacts such as pollution and air quality degradation. In response, the developers have committed to limiting parking availability to residential areas, with measures in place to mitigate traffic concerns. Additionally, the City Council has stipulated that residents and their guests must not use adjacent commercial parking lots.

To further address traffic flow, plans for a new traffic light on Magnolia Street and the construction of a barrier to prevent illegal U-turns have been proposed; however, these measures are pending approval from the California Department of Transportation.

The project does include an affordable housing component, with 78 deed-restricted low-income units identified in the agreement, which aims to alleviate some of the housing shortages in the area.

This new housing development is part of Fountain Valley’s broader strategy to meet its housing mandates under state law, requiring the city to add 4,839 housing units by 2029. As existing entertainment venues and open spaces are transformed into residential units, city officials are trying to balance development with the potential impacts on the local environment and the community’s quality of life.

The Boomers! site, which operated as a family entertainment venue until closing its doors in 2020, has long awaited redevelopment. The city has been envisioning a transformation of the area into a more residential and commercially viable location as part of its urban planning initiatives.

Although the majority of the council moved forward with the project, some ongoing debates highlight the inherent challenges in balancing development needs with environmental and community impact concerns. Mayor Ted Bui was the sole member to support the appeal, emphasizing the significance of environmental considerations and related concerns of the residents.

The city now turns its focus to the implementation stages, aiming to ensure that community issues are adequately addressed as construction begins and the vision for new housing unfolds.