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Article #235: Urban Sprawl: Cerritos, California's Plan To Come Out Ahead

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While "urban sprawl" and "smart growth" people by 1970, only three years after
seem to be key phrases in the news these the city officially changed its name to
days-especially among politicians and Cerritos (chosen because it was located
environmentalists, the truth is "smart in close proximity to the original land
growth" can only happen when there is a grant Rancho Los Cerritos). Seeing the
plan in place to grow. "Smart growth" is potential problems with continued
not a reaction to a housing boom. Neither population growth, Cerritos wanted to
is it a way to boost a city's economy as continue to grow in a well-developed
it begins to slide into a slump. Truly manner under a policy of continual
smart growth is a new city's plan to, environmental improvement. The standards
over years, accommodate more people and and goals of the policy laid out ways to
businesses, without comprising its achieve a park-like community and still
natural resources or the quality of life allow for commercial, industrial, and
for those who are already there. Despite residential development. The first
what many people are labeling as "smart Cerritos General Plan was adopted in
growth" in an effort to pad their own October of 1971, to provide for a
bank accounts or please their more controlled urban development. The plan
powerful constituents, smart growth can itself guaranteed convenient access to
happen. And it has in the California city shopping near homes, locations for a
of Cerritos. Cerritos is an unassuming multitude of services, attractive
city, less attention-hungry than its neighborhoods, and parks for recreation.
bigger brothers Los Angeles and A revised version of the General Plan was
Hollywood. Nestled just northeast of adopted in January of 2004. So how did
Long Beach and northwest of Anaheim, the they do it? Approximately half of the
city of Cerritos isn't well known. Most city's land is designated for residential
Americans wouldn't know that it's home to development. This didn't slow Cerritos
Cerritos College (the third largest down. From 1970 to 1972, Cerritos became
Hispanic-serving community colleges in California's fastest growing city with a
the country), Isuzu Motors America, population increase from 15,800 to
Inc.-well-known for its top-of-the-line 37,700. But it wasn't just the
SUV "Ascender" and pickup trucks, and residential development that was being
United Postal Services (which employs focused on. Cerritos opened the first
approximately 5,000 people in Cerritos solar-heated City Hall complex in U.S.
alone). California Business Magazine history in 1978. The City developed the
named Cerritos one of the best 100 Cities Cerritos Auto Square in the early '80s,
to do business in the state. Incorporated which now generates $10 million+ in sales
in 1956 as The City of Dairy Valley, tax revenue annually. In 1997, Cerritos
Cerritos' original name reflected the opened a state-of-the-art Cerritos
community's agricultural focus. At that Sheriff's Station/Community Safety Center
time, dairy cattle outnumbered the to the tune of $10 million to provide
residents of the city nine to one as residents with public safety services
there were less than 5,000 people living 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year. In March
in the incorporated city. Cerritos of 2002, the Cerritos Library was
received its charter to become a dedicated-an 88,000-square-foot building
California city two years after its featuring art collections, educational
incorporation, which marked the beginning displays and beautiful conference center
of its "smart growth." Approximately s. As anniversary gifts commemorating 50
eight years later, rising property taxes years as a city, The Cerritos Sculpture
and land prices began to take their toll Garden and a fitness/wellness center at
on dairy operations, and by the early the Cerritos Senior Center were dedicated
1960s the agricultural crux of Cerritos in 2006 to the community.
was beginning to falter. In March of For the ultimate in sports utility
1965, the citizens decided, in a special vehicles check out Isuzu. Many drivers
election, to permit homes to be built are finding out that owning an Isuzu SUV
under strict residential development is a smart choice for saftey and getting
guidelines. This change led to a spurt in a higher gas milage. Go to a showroom
the population growth, with the today!
population edging to just under 16,000






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