Canon may split up its land

Paul Clinton

Canon Inc. won approval from the Planning Commission on Tuesday to

subdivide the land under its Red Hill Avenue manufacturing plant to

help sell it off as the company pulls out of town.

The Toyko-based manufacturer of copying machines, printers and

cameras announced it would close its Costa Mesa operation in March.

Since then, about 300 of its employees have been transferred to other

divisions or laid off, a company spokeswoman said.

“The market space that we’re in changes rapidly,” said Debra

Epstein of Canon USA. “It was a move to maintain our competitiveness.

It was a move of streamlining and centralizing manufacturing.”

Company officials would not release any details about the pending

sale of the land, but breaking up the 13.73-acre parcel into six

smaller pieces should help sell it.

“It gives them the flexibility to sell off each of the different

buildings to different owners,” Associate Planner Claire Flynn said.

“It’s easier to find a tenant for one building [than for six].”

As a condition of the unanimous approval, the planning board

inserted a condition that would require new tenants to add parking

should they apply to remodel their structures.

The complex’s six buildings total 284,625 square feet of space and

483 parking stalls. It’s near John Wayne Airport, at Red Hill Avenue

and Pullman Street.

Ed Fawcett, executive director of the Costa Mesa Chamber Of

Commerce, bemoaned the loss of a company division that has operated

in Costa Mesa for almost three decades. Canon manufactured inkjet

printers and cartridges at the plant.

“The loss to Costa Mesa is significant,” Fawcett said. “They were

significant employers ....To lose them was very disappointing.”

After announcing the move in March, the company began phasing the

division out. The complex is now vacant.