Council directs staff to negotiate release of recreation restriction on Parkside parcels amid airport‑compatibility concerns

The Brawley City Council on July 1 directed staff to open formal talks with the Brawley Elementary School District (BESD) about releasing a restriction that currently requires a north Parkside Estates parcel to be held for recreational use.

Development Services Director Barajas told the council the two parcels (APNs 046349003 and 046349004) total about 12 acres; the northern parcel subject to the restriction is approximately 6.44 acres. When the subdivision was approved the land was designated open space and later a joint‑use agreement identified it as a potential school site to serve both the district and community recreation needs. In the interim the developer and city built nearby facilities (Ed Souda Field and Volunteer Park) that together total about 6.8 acres, Barajas said.

Barajas told the council the northern parcel is currently zoned for recreation and the southern parcel is public facilities; allowed uses under current zoning include parks, athletic fields, single‑family homes (recreation zoning), and schools or government buildings (public facilities zoning). If a purchaser proposes a use not allowed under current zoning, Barajas said, the buyer may file a zone change request subject to city review, environmental analysis and planning commission and council decisions.

A separate but relevant constraint is the County of Imperial Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Barajas said the county’s existing 1996 plan places the site within a broadly permissive zone but that a draft updated compatibility plan (now available for public comment) would place roughly 75% of the property in a zone that discourages high‑concentration uses (labeled Zone 3 in the draft), with a smaller portion in a traffic‑pattern zone where higher concentrations might be allowed under conditions. The county’s Airport Land Use Commission provides advisory recommendations; the city retains final decision authority under its zoning and environmental review processes.

Pastor Sean Arviso of Christ Community Church addressed the council and said his congregation is interested in purchasing the 12‑acre site to build a larger facility to serve the community and to explore partnering with the city on recreation uses. Barajas told Arviso and the council that churches are private facilities and would not automatically qualify as public facilities unless a joint‑use arrangement was part of a proposed project. Barajas also said the school district would control sale proceeds and that staff would request appraisal information and negotiate terms with BESD.

Council members asked whether nearby Parkside residents had been consulted; Barajas said past outreach occurred when the park was originally considered but records showed no recent active community process, and that any rezoning or project application would trigger mailed notice to nearby residents per city procedures. Council members and staff discussed maintenance funding concerns: parks and recreation staff said the city currently lacks funds and staff to develop and maintain a new park of that size, and the council discussed whether sale proceeds could be used to improve existing parks.

The council voted to direct staff to meet with BESD and develop an agreement to release the restriction; the vote was recorded as a voice vote with the motion carrying. Staff said they will seek appraisal information and return with a draft agreement and recommended conditions. The council did not approve any sale at the July 1 meeting; the direction stops at beginning negotiations and document drafting.