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Community urges preservation as district outlines RFP options for 11‑acre Banning Ranch parcel
Summary
Public speakers and conservation groups urged the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District to preserve an 11‑acre surplus parcel adjacent to the Randall Preserve, while staff summarized six lease proposals and one purchase offer and said no action would be taken tonight as the RFP review continues. (Vote/action on RFP deferred.)
The Newport‑Mesa Unified School District presented a review of competing proposals Wednesday for an 11‑acre surplus parcel at 16th Street, while dozens of residents urged the board to preserve the land rather than approve housing development.
Assistant Superintendent Dixon told the board the district issued a request for proposals after a surplus‑property committee recommended declaring the site surplus. “We received six lease proposals, and one proposal for purchase,” Dixon said, explaining the purchase offer from the Coastal Corridor Alliance was deemed nonresponsive because the RFP sought a ground‑lease response. Dixon also said the nonresponsive purchase offer was in the realm of $2,000,000 for the site.
In a string of public comments, speakers urged the board to prioritize conservation. Terry Welsh, president of the Coastal Corridor Alliance, asked the board to pause the…
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