Irvine council hears hundreds of speakers in scoping session over proposal to redevelop Oak Creek golf course

The Irvine City Council on Tuesday reopened a contentious scoping session on a general-plan amendment filed by the Irvine Company to establish Planning Area 52 (Oak Park), which would allow residential development on the Oak Creek Golf Course and related property. Council members authorized staff to begin processing the application for the general-plan amendment by a 7-0 vote.

The scoping session drew about 81 registered speakers (77 in person, 4 remotely) and roughly two hours of public testimony at the council dais. Residents and community groups urged both sides of the question to be heard: hundreds of speakers argued the proposal would violate Initiative 88-1, a 1988 voter measure they said permanently protected portions of Irvine open space, while other speakers and business groups said the proposal would add housing near jobs and provide community benefits.

Proponents and applicant presentation: The city manager and Community Development staff presented the Irvine Company application as an alternative to a previously discussed plan for higher-density development on land adjacent to Oak Creek. Staff described the proposal as a village plan with about 3,100 homes, a proposed public elementary school parcel, public parks, a community center, and roughly 300 acres proposed as publicly owned open space within the project area. Eric Davis, attorney for the Irvine Company, told council the applicant’s…