Land-swap proposal for a new veterans cemetery site rejected by Irvine council

A proposed land swap designed to assuage neighborhood concerns while providing a state-run veterans cemetery was rejected this week by the Irvine City Council, which decided to stay with the previously approved site on 125 acres of the Orange County Great Park.

“The application is ready to go,” Councilman Jeff Lalloway said after the council’s 3-1 vote Tuesday. “Why, at the 11th hour, if everybody believes in this project, would we want to put the brakes on now, stop and change course?”

Area developer FivePoint Communities had proposed to exchange a similar-size plot off the southwest corner of the park for the land currently designated for the cemetery.

The idea was greeted with enthusiasm by local residents and a veterans group supporting the cemetery and was presented for council consideration by Councilwoman Christina Shea.

“I just believed this was a win-win for this city,” Shea said. “It dealt with all of the residents and their concerns.”

Approval of a Southern California veterans cemetery was a hard-fought battle won in July 2014, when the Irvine council designated the 125-acre portion of the northeast sector of the Great Park for the project. The site is on the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Veterans groups celebrated the decision, while many affected property owners were incensed.

In the nearly two years since, the cemetery has received ratification from the state Legislature and the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown.

But property owners in the area vehemently objected to having a cemetery near their homes and the new Portola High School, which is opening this year.

Many homeowners who are Asian immigrants observe the ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui, a belief in harmony among nature, architecture and personal space in which burial grounds have a specific place – and specifically not adjacent to dwellings or schools.

Six months ago, FivePoint, which has partnered with the city on landholdings around the Great Park, proposed a solution. The developer offered to exchange the current site for property just off the 5 Freeway, near the interchange with the 405 Freeway. That land also is part of the former El Toro Marine base.

Residents were pleased, and the veterans group agreed it was an even more preferable site because it offers easy access from both freeways and good visibility for motorists.

In addition, the land has been used only for agriculture over several decades, meaning no demolition and little or no cleanup would be necessary. The Great Park property would require demolition of structures and old taxiways.

Discussions took place over the winter to align the presentation, and a letter was drafted by FivePoint, which included the signature of veterans representative Bill Cook. The plan was presented to Shea, who placed it on Tuesday’s council agenda.

Shea proposed a 60-day period to discuss the swap. But no one offered a second to her motion.

With a cemetery site already established and a pre-application deadline for a federal grant coming up July 1, city leaders were concerned that the entire process could be undone.

Councilwoman Beth Krom expressed concern that the land-swap proposal was only recently presented after months of private discussion.

“That doesn’t suggest to me that we’re dealing with a transparent process, a sound process,” Krom said. “And frankly, I’m not willing to take that risk.”

Krom then offered a proposal to reaffirm the July 2014 vote in favor of the current 125-acre site. Lalloway seconded the motion and it passed by a 3-1 vote after Shea left the dais. Mayor Steven Choi cast the dissenting vote.

“I think it’s a foolish, foolish decision that they’re making,” Shea said. “I think it’s very shortsighted that we don’t realize how great a proposal was brought forth.”

Gang Chen, a community organizer who is running for Irvine mayor this year, said: “We are really, really disappointed that the City Council turned down this win-win-win solution. This land swap is good for everyone.”

“They did not listen,” said Cook, one of 50 people who addressed the council during public comments on the issue. “What was discussed from the dais was unrelated to what we were actually asking.”

Many homeowners organized by Chen displayed signs reading “Vote yes to swap.” After the vote, they loudly began filing out of the meeting.

The veterans contingent was mostly perplexed.

“We came away from that meeting, as veterans, with exactly what we walked into it with,” Cook said. “The constituent community walked into it full of hope and walked out with their hopes dashed.”

Cook vowed the fight for the other site isn’t finished.

“I’m a Marine; I don’t expect easy jobs,” Cook said. “We attacked, we got rebuffed; you better watch your flanks – we’re coming back.”