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Stanton council adopts CEQA clearance, approves joint-use lease and conceptual plan for Norm Ross Sports Park
Summary
Council adopted a mitigated negative declaration, approved a joint-use lease with Garden Grove Unified School District and approved the conceptual site plan for the Norm Ross Sports Park, clearing the way to prepare construction bids for a project funded by a $7.6 million state park grant; the measure passed 5-0.
The Stanton City Council on June 24 adopted a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA, approved a joint-use lease agreement with the Garden Grove Unified School District and approved the conceptual site plan for the Norm Ross Sports Park, actions staff said are necessary to finalize plans and advertise a construction contract.
The project is funded by a competitive statewide park grant of $7,600,000 awarded to Stanton in 2021, staff said. Assistant City Engineer Elias Garcia said the environmental review concluded that “the MND report found that all impacts from this project can be mitigated to a level that is less than significant.” Staff also developed a mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) and said a May 3–June 3 public review period produced no public objections.
Under the 30-year joint-use lease with two optional five-year extensions, the Garden Grove Unified School District retains fee ownership of the parcel and the city assumes responsibility for development, operations and maintenance. Staff told the council the lease contains no rent fee; the city will assume construction and ongoing maintenance costs. “We have to just take full control and maintain and and develop the park, but no fee,” City staff said.
The final conceptual plan includes a park building, a multipurpose sports court, a dog park with separate small- and large-dog areas, a multiuse little-league baseball field that can be used for U-12 soccer, a playground and a community garden along the west perimeter. The plan also shows a new pedestrian bridge across the storm channel to connect Stanton Park and the new site behind Carver Elementary. Staff and the project architect PBK presented site renderings during the meeting.
The council and staff discussed several implementation topics: the school district did not want to sell the property when the city first applied for grant funding and staff said it has not pursued purchase; school district insurance and the city’s insurance through the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) will cover the site; the community garden will be relocated and gated during construction; and the project will use natural turf after the state issued guidance excluding synthetic turf from drought-tolerant landscaping and citing ongoing health reviews.
Staff said approving the conceptual plan and lease will allow the city to finalize plans and specifications, prepare a construction bid package, advertise and award a contract in 2025. Construction was described as likely to last about 1½ years depending on bids, with completion anticipated in 2027. After staff presentation, Council Member Warren moved approval and Mayor Pro Tem Torres seconded; the council approved the actions in a roll-call vote, 5–0 (Warren, Barrios, Taylor, Torres and Mayor Schauffer voting yes).
