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Home My WebLink AboutSS10 - Land Trade Remnant - Undeveloped 8.8 Acre Site Adjacent to the BluffsCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH .. Community Development Department January 6, 1976 STUDY SESSION NO_. 10_ TO: Robert Wynn, City Manager FROM: Tim Cowell, Advance Planning Administrator SUBJECT: "Land Trade Remnant" m- Undeveloped 8.8 acre site adjacent to the Bluffs. Background - During Planning Commission hearings in May of 1975 on Tentative Tract 8680 in the "Bluffs" area, concern with the possible develop- ment of the adjacent 8.8 acre "land trade remnant" was raised. In response to this concern, The Irvine Company withdrew the application for Tentative Tract 8680 until a determination on the possible public acquisition of the land trade remnant is made. At the June 9, 1975 City Council meeting, the Council referred the May 21, 1975 letter (copy attached) from The Irvine Company to the Planning Commission for consideration and recommendation. This letter requested the City Council to reach a decision on purchasing the land trade remnant by October 1, 1975. A subsequent letter from The Irvine Company extended the time for consideration to December 1, 1975. 0n June 10, 1975, a letter was sent to The Irvine Company by the Mayor, requesting that The Irvine Company propose a price for public acquisition of the land trade remnant. By letter of November 10, 1975 (copy attached), The Irvine Company has indicated that their appraised fair market value of the land trade remnant is $550,000. (It is s:aff's understanding that The Irvine Company, in view of. the date of the appraisal, is agreeable to a reasonable review period extending beyond the December 1, 1975 date,,) Zoning and General Plan Eesignation The land use remnant parcel is currently in the R3-B zoning district, which would permit mul ti efan: ly residential development. However, the General Plan desi gnaes this parcel as "Recreational and Environ- ment-1 Open Space" with an alternate use of residential (with a maxi mum :-f appr.ximately 88 dwelling units) if public purchase, or other means of preserving the property as open space, does not prove feasible. Depa tmeit c f Fish and Gme Evaluation The State Department of Fish and Game, at the request of the City, conducted a cursory oval ration of all undeveloped lends ada cent to the Upper Bay Ecological Reserve in September, 1975. Tick: Page Two "Reconnaissance4Survey" report, previously distributed to the City Council , ranks the land trade remnant in Priority 3, on a priority scale from 1 (highest) to 7 (lowest), and states that the land trade remnant contains "valuable buffer space qualities" and would serve as a vista point. The evaluation further states that "there is public parking within the Eastbluff Park, and access through the park to the site and thence to the Ecological Reserve by Trail," and that "the wildlife habitat potential is considered good because of the condition of the bluffs and existing natural cover." Coastal Commission Acquisition List The land trade remnant, along with all undeveloped properties adjacent to the Upper Bay, is on the Coastal Commission's prelim- inary property acquisition list, it is expected that final action on this acquisition list will be taken by the State Coastal Commis- sion in February, 1976; this action will consist of a recommendation to the Legislature and Governor that the lands on the finial acquisi- tion list be purchased, or otherwise acquired, by the public. Planning Commission Review After receiving The Irvine Company's appraisal, the land trade remnant subject was placed on the Planning Commission Study Session Agenda. The Planning Commission decided to continue discussion of this matter until the January 22, 1976 joint meeting with the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission; this will allow the two Commis- sions to discuss the potential public recreation and open space values of the land trade remnant prior to the Planning Commission's formulation of a recommendation to the City Council, 7) G °w'e dvance Planning Administrator T C : jjm`` b Att: 1) Letter from The Irvine Company dated May 21 , 1975. 2) Letter from The Irvine Company dated November 10, 1975. May 21, 1975 Newport Beach City Council. City of Newport Beach 3300 Newport Boulevard Newport Beach, California 92660 Mayor McInnis Your City Staff has indicated to The Irvine Company several concerns regarding Tentative Map No. 8680 and Use Permit No. 1729 involving a site in the Eastbluff area. As you. are aware, these items are presently being considered by the Planning Commission. Apparently, several questions concerning the "Land Trade Remnant" parcel have been raised because of its proximity to and im.:acts on the site in question. Ilccordi.ngly,• we have asked the applicant, IDH, a joint venture, and they have agreed, to withdraw its applications until a determination is nude by the City Council on the "Land Trade Remnant" •parcel.. The Residential Growth Element of the adopted General Plan states that the "Land Trade Remnant" adjacent to the 'Bluffs" shall be rezoned from R-3-B to a yet -to -be -developed zoning district which will permit a maximum density of ten dwelling units per gross acre although it is proposed that,.if possible, this land be acquired as open space as part of the "Upper Newport Bay Wildlife Reserve." The Irvine Company is prepared to start preliminary studies for the development of the subject e ct parcel. Such studies will necessar it involve substantial expenditures. However, before we can procee;l, we wish to know the City' s intentions concerning this parcel. We could offer the parcel to any governmental agency willing to pur-- chase it for fair. market values. However, if there Is no interest in a purchase, we would then pursue development in accordance with the adopted General Plan. Ili order to resol -ve the question, we request that t. he City TariCh a decision by October 1., 197S w}1Cl.hci or not public ownrship of this parcel �, is to Le rti. Odin -taken and hole it is 1_o he i unJed. �'r to d.c:t .,•lnirl�: the, This should alJc��.: su.�Fi.cin�. t ir. ''lo 'tee. i.011 1 S Iit t 1C 0:at t}.." l:;iTttl . hau td 610 Ncwf)oft Ccntor Drive: Newport E3ear31 , California 92653 (714) 644 3011 RECEIVED Community UeveloPrnent Dep MAY 2 21975�.. 0 CITY OF NEWPCRT BEACH CALIF. •7, j� 1 Net•:pnr t It. clr C:.L L.y Courrc i.1 2 - May 21, 1975 be acquired, then The Trvine Company would like to finalize the terms of the purchase by June 1, 1976. If it :is decided that the property should not be acquired for public use, then we would assume that processing development plans, at a residential density of ten dwelling units per gross. acre, as provided in the General Plan, could be allowed. Whichever decision is made by the City, the status of the pending applications for approval of Tentative Tract No. 868(1 and Use Permit No. 1729 will then be clarified and appropriate resubmissions thereof can be made. We respectfully request your consideration of this matter and will welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you and the Members of the City Council, perhaps at an early study session. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Very truly y ank E. Hughes .ice President Residential Divios-i-6n cc: D . EIogan City Manager Members of Council • 610 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, California 92663 (714) 644-3011 'Novernber 10, 1975 The Honorable Donald McInnis, Mayor of Newport. Beach 3300. Newport Boulevard Newport Beach, California 92660 Dear Sir: Re: Lot 83,, Tract 6230 and Land Trade Remnant The Irvine Company. has completed an appra.isal of the subject parcels and concluded that the current fair market value of the approximate 8,8 acres is $550,000,. If the City elects to purchase the land, the offer would have to' be presented to the Board of Directors of The Irvine Company and, therefore, The Irvine Company is not making any binding arrangements at this time and will be bound only when the final documents are executed and delivered. We shall be pleased to meet with members of the C:i.ty staff for further negotiations, Very ruiy y il t (/ Y .CeJ_ enc,:1 A. Welsh Direct or,. Leatring - CoC�iii:e•L c.T..[4.�. Division. 1:a cc : l:c)l:,e t: Wynn, City Ma.n_ i;er „„i i.cl!al-d Hogan, D rect.:o': Cc i:uuu.i_ty Development Dept.