Planning commission finds transfer of 6.2 acres at Heritage Park conforms to general plan

The Redlands Planning Commission on May 27, 2025 reported that a proposed disposition of 6.2 acres within Heritage Park — the parcel that currently contains school facilities — is in conformity with the city’s General Plan, as required by Government Code section 65402.

Staff presented the property at 11126 Iowa Street (the southeast corner of Orange Avenue and Iowa Street) and told the commission that the 6.2-acre parcel would be transferred to the Redlands Unified School District for continued use as a school (Grove School). Heritage Park totals about 18.4 acres; the remaining parkland would continue to be owned and maintained by the city. Staff said the city exceeds the general plan parkland standard of five acres per 1,000 residents, providing about 6.1 acres per 1,000 residents as of 2023, and concluded the disposition does not conflict with adopted city goals.

Commissioners asked staff clarifying questions about the existing lease and how future development would be reviewed. Staff said the current lease to operate the school is for a nominal $1 per year and includes terms that end in 2030 with option(s) to renew; staff also said they are working on a reversion clause and use restrictions that would require the property to remain a school if transferred. Staff confirmed that future development by the charter school would return to the city for the usual local review and not be handled solely by the Division of the State Architect.

A member of the public urged more detail on how parcel lines would be adjusted and recommended a subdivision process. Steve Rogers said he could not identify a single 6.2-acre parcel on the exhibit and asked that staff present the mechanism for creating the proposed configuration before the City Council considers transaction terms.

Commissioner Gonzalez moved and Commissioner Stanson seconded the motion that the potential disposition of the 6.2-acre portion of Heritage Park is in conformity with the Redlands General Plan, provided the underlying continued use is for a school. The motion carried.

Why it matters: The general plan conformity finding is a required planning step under state law before a local agency may dispose of real property. Any final terms of a transfer, including reversion language, restrictions on future use, and detailed parcel adjustments, will be handled later in Council-level transaction documents and public hearings.