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Board backs AB 571 and advances veterans cemetery project; staff reports progress on VA funding eligibility
Summary
The Board unanimously supported AB 571 addressing litigation delays and received an update on the county’s veteran cemetery project; staff expects site plan and CalVet grant documents will be finalized for a July deadline.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 24 voted unanimously to support AB 571, legislation designed to exempt the veterans cemetery project from what supporters argued were abusive litigation delays.
Public speakers, including veterans’ advocates such as Nick Berardino of the Veterans Alliance of Orange County, urged the Board to support the bill and criticized past attempts to block the project. Several speakers described the site as a long‑delayed community priority.
County staff member Miller told the Board the project remains active: the site was listed as an eligible site for Veterans Administration grants (with a nonconforming designation requiring additional documentation), and CalVet was preparing required materials including a site plan. Miller said staff expects to finalize documents within a month to meet a July filing deadline for grant funding that would move the project up the funding list in the fall. The county is coordinating transfer and grading plans with CalVet and the cemetery district.
Board members praised legislative efforts in Sacramento and asked staff to continue coordination with CalVet and the cemetery district so grading and entitlement steps can proceed once litigation is resolved.
What’s next: staff will finalize the site plan and related submissions by the July deadline and continue to coordinate with state partners on property transfer and grading work.
