Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves updated transactions for Gateway Village, clearing path for site work and preserve trailhead
Summary
Council voted unanimously to approve updates to transactional documents with Brookfield so site work and horizontal infrastructure can begin this spring; approvals include market-rate and affordable DDAs, financing-lease modifications and a tax-exchange tied to annexation of a notch parcel.
The City Council approved a set of updated transactional documents on Feb. 10 to move forward on the Gateway Village and Gateway Preserve project, enabling site work to begin this spring and setting a path toward model home construction and community opening in late 2027–early 2028.
Assistant City Manager Pete Carmichael and partners described a multi-part deal structure with Brookfield Residential that keeps the city responsible for horizontal infrastructure (grading, roads, utilities) and requires Brookfield to provide approximately $105 million in deposits to support site work and early debt service. The documents add a market-rate disposition and development agreement (DDA) plus two affordable DDAs to comply with California’s Surplus Lands Act and to structure the affordable housing parcels.
Council also heard that the 700‑acre Gateway Preserve’s resource and recreation management plan was deemed concurrent with the Natural Community Conservation Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan permits; the preserve will include more than nine miles of new trails and a staging area planned to open in 2028. Gateway Village is anticipated to include about 138 homes with 25% of units restricted as long‑term affordable housing (minimum 55 years under state law).
During the meeting the council moved and seconded adoption of recommendations 1–7 to update Brookfield deal terms and related agreements; the council approved those actions by roll call vote, 7–0, and the Irvine Facilities Financing Authority later approved a related financing-lease modification (item 8) also by a 7–0 vote.
Staff said builder deposits would be expected later in the month, site preparation and horizontal construction would begin this spring, and model homes could start in mid‑2027 with final sales and community occupancy in the early 2030s. The council directed staff to finalize and execute the agreements following the approvals.
