Orange County Great Park

Now that it won't be an airport how about getting involved in the park?

OCGP Stakeholders Meet June 05
John Pfeffer and Gene Felder represented the Laguna Canyon Conservancy at the June 18, 2005 Orange County Great Park Stakeholders Meeting.


Gene's comments:

I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the Millennium Plan and resulting Orange County Great Park, however I learned a number of negative things at the Stakeholders meeting Saturday, June 18, 2005. Some of this is just facing up to reality, and I am still quite enthusiastic. This is particularly so when I remember it is replacing a large international airport at El Toro.

The Navy is "in escrow" selling the Lennar Communities will be able to develop approximately 16% of the property. In return, Lennar must pay $200 million in development fees and an additional $200 million in property assessments to be used for the development of the Great Park.

I have been telling people that:
- Out of the 4,700 acres, only 1,000 acres would be privately
developed leaving about a 5,700 acre urban park which would be larger than New York's Central Park, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, and San Diego's Balboa Park combined.
- The Marine Air Station at El Toro has over 1,000 of natural open
space which would remain as permanent open space.
- This open space abuts the Cleveland National Forest and would be
connected to the Laguna Wilderness Park/Crystal Cove State Park providing the longest natural corridor (from Pacific Ocean to Mexico
border)

Some negative (and positive) things I learned:
- 1,000 acre natural open space is a Federal Refuge
- counted as part of the Great Park
- not really part of the Park as people not allowed there
- area is not pristine but degraded requiring restoration
- not protected as part of Park; although unlikely Federal govt could sell
- Corridor
- Not hiking trail, animals only
- Between two golf courses as narrow as 500 feet
- Not suitable for mountain lions, designed for small mammal
- Private Ownership - Public Uses
- Large portion of Park
- Golf courses, cemetery
- Might be a plus as they would pay property taxes
- Big surprise to me is that privately owned homes would be along privately owned open to the public golf courses
- Public Ownership - Public Uses
- Only about 1,200 acres
- Includes sports facilities, exposition (museums) and meadows park
- Seven designers selected to offer their designs for Park
- Goal is within 3 years these sports facilities and meadows park to be a reality


From www.ocgp.org
Under the terms of a development agreement offered by the City of Irvine, Lennar Communities will be able to develop approximately 16% of the property. In return, Lennar must pay $200 million in development fees and an additional $200 million in property assessments to be used for the development of the Great Park. Land Use Plan
The Great Park Plan will allow development on the property that is consistent with the uses allowed by the voter-approved Measure W. Under the Great Park Plan, the 4,693-acre El Toro property will become a master planned community. This community will include:
. More than 83% of the total acreage will be dedicated to open
space uses, including a Meadows Park, a Sports Park, an Educational Campus, an Exposition Center (including museum and cultural activities), and a Wildlife Corridor.
. 1,200 acres will be owned by the public.
. 10% of the property will be designated for the Great Park
Communities, which will include housing, offices, public golf courses and shopping.

Development Agreement
A Development Agreement with the City of Irvine will give the landowner the right to develop the Great Park Communities within the Great Park. The Development Agreement will require the landowner to transfer 1,200 acres to public ownership and pay $401 million dollars in development fees and assessments. This revenue will be used to develop the Great Park, including roads, sewers, utilities, lights and other basic infrastructure.