Part of Irvine’s Oak Creek Golf Club could be replaced with a nature park as officials pave the way for an alternative open space on the site, which is also expected to be the location for a future housing development proposing thousands of new homes.
The area had been the subject of a heated debate regarding open space regulations over the past year.
The conflict is centered on a privately-owned golf course and whether or not the Irvine Company is allowed to turn the course into housing.
While no specific housing plans are proposed at this time, council members approved a change to the city’s zoning law during their meeting last week that could allow the Irvine Company to develop a nature park on part of the golf course site.
[Read: Irvine’s Oak Creek Development Could See Nature Park]
The proposal is still in conceptual design phases, which feature a 50-acre nature park that could include walking paths and bridges connecting to the Jeffrey Open Space Trail and create a corridor from Limestone Canyon, through the center of the city and to the Quail Hill Open Space Preserve.
The Oak Creek site is designated as “preservation” in the city’s general plan and zoning code.
Residents also voted for the land to be preserved as open space as part of a ballot initiative in 1988.
[Read: Irvine Grapples With Open Space Protections]
The council’s vote on Tuesday night didn’t approve the nature park. Instead, it approved a path for a nature park to satisfy the open space requirement for the site instead of a golf course.
Many residents maintained concern that the proposal could violate that voter-approved preservation designation from the ‘80s, especially since the nature park would be about a third of the size of the current golf course and the rest of the site could become housing.
[Read: Irvine’s Oak Creek Golf Club Could Become Housing, Does it Go Against a Voter Initiative?]
Council members emphasized that last week’s vote was not approving any housing development or changing the land’s designation as preservation.
“The zoning will be the same and the preservation will be the same — we’re providing options for what we can do with the open space,” Councilmember James Mai said at the meeting.
Councilmember Kathleen Treseder said she supports the potential development of a nature park because it would be better for the environment than a golf course.
“Golf courses technically are open in the sense that they have no buildings on them, but they are not very good for the environment,” she said. “I’m pretty sure their planned park will be much better for the environment.”
Treseder also said residents were right that the nature park is being discussed because it will be in conjunction with a future proposed housing project.
“I’ve heard you say that this is all tied to the development, and I’m not going to disagree with that at all,” she said. “I think you’re absolutely right. I know you’re right. I want to make it clear to you — just because I’m supporting the park doesn’t mean I’m an automatic ‘yes’ vote on the development.”
She added that she would only support proposed housing development at Oak Creek if it has “true long-term affordable housing.”
“If they can do that, I will ultimately be supportive of the development,” Treseder said. “But so far, [The Irvine Company] has not committed to that to me, so I’m waiting to see if they do that. But for now, yes, I do support a park.”
Councilmember Mike Carroll, whose district includes Oak Creek, was absent from the meeting.
Jeff Davis from the Irvine Company said that the nature park is meant to meet the same open space goals that were originally proposed as part of the golf course years ago.
He also emphasized that more people would have access to a nature park than privately-owned golf course.
“While the resulting option differs from the current golf course, it is fundamentally rooted in the Jeffrey Trail process and therefore a consistent approach to implementing the open space program,” he said at the meeting.
Davis said residents helped shape the proposal.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of residents that we’ve had contact with in this planning process. Their input led to a community vision for the proposed nature park,” he said.
Over a hundred residents spoke at the meeting during a public comment period that lasted nearly three hours.
While some speakers said they supported the effort, arguing it would be a great place for residents and families to enjoy nature, many speakers voiced concerns about the nature park’s size and future housing development.
“This is a critical location in the center of our city and it needs to remain open,” one resident said, “so why would we ever agree to accept a 50-acre park when we all voted for a 176 acres of open space?”
Irvine resident Lisa Wood said the question of development at Oak Creek must be put on the ballot for a vote.
“I am here tonight because I am deeply disappointed that the city council is not standing up for the voters of Irvine,” Wood said. “In 1988, voters made their intent clear: Oak Creek is permanent open space.”
“The Irvine Company is proposing to develop roughly two-thirds of the existing open space and then re-label the remaining one third as a nature park,” she continued. “That is not a gift. That is a net loss of protected land and a massive reduction of the open space voters were promised would be permanent.”
[Read: Irvine Open Space Protection Ballot Measure Kicked to 2026]
Mayor Larry Agran said he will ensure Irvine residents will be able to cast their votes regarding a project at Oak Creek through a future ballot measure. He also assured residents that that would include a full Environmental Impact Report after a developer proposes a project.
It would take city staff and the developer about a year to prepare those environmental documents.
Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
