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Santa Ana Moves to Clear Way for High-Tech Center on Disputed Site

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Times Staff Writer

Santa Ana’s Redevelopment Agency granted a McDonnell Douglas Corp. subsidiary exclusive negotiating rights to develop a multimillion-dollar, 67-acre high-technology center and office complex Tuesday, and a lawyer for Santa Ana said he will file suit today to try to block construction of a high school nearby.

City Atty. Edward J. Cooper said the suit will allege that the Santa Ana Unified School District failed to comply with provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act requiring preparation of an environmental impact report before a decision is reached on a major construction project.

Additionally, the district did not obtain a report from the city dealing with the project’s compatibility with Santa Ana’s general plan, as required by the government code, Cooper said.

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The city and school district have been caught up in a dispute since April 9, when the board voted to locate a new high school on a 40-acre site adjacent to the proposed McDonnell Douglas project.

Decision Denounced

The owner of both sites, Santa Fe Land Improvement Co., immediately denounced the board’s decision and said Santa Fe would not proceed with the McDonnell Douglas transaction if the board refused to reconsider.

Last Thursday, after a closed-door meeting with the City Council and top city administrators, Mayor Daniel E. Griset fired off an ultimatum to the district, threatening legal action if the decision was not rescinded by 1 p.m. Monday. Board President Joan Wilkinson responded the next day, saying she was “confident” the city and district could work together to locate a new site.

Cooper, however, said Wilkinson’s letter fails to meet the city’s demands.

“There has been no movement. They (board members) have not rescinded their prior decision. That letter did not state that they had set aside the prior decision,” he said.

The suit, naming the district and the board members as defendants, will ask the court to set aside the board’s decision and force the district to comply with all applicable laws in choosing a site for the school, Cooper said.

“Until we actually receive a formal suit, it’s a little difficult for us to react to (the city’s ultimatum),” said Assistant Supt. Anthony J. Dalessi.

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The board met Tuesday night but took no formal action, Dalessi said.

Few Vacant Tracts

The difficulty in choosing a site is compounded by the small number of large, vacant tracts in Santa Ana. Last week, when the board chose the 40-acre site at 1800 S. Grand Ave., some members noted that another Santa Fe property to the north would be a good second choice. That site, at 1400 S. Grand Ave., however, is only 25 acres and Santa Fe has indicated its reluctance to part with it for the high school. Moreover, the state, which is funding construction of the school, has recommended a 40-acre site for a high school.

Also at last week’s meeting, City Manager Robert Bobb urged the board to choose yet another site, this one on the northwest corner of Grand and McFadden avenues. That site, however, contains a number of businesses.

The Redevelopment Agency’s unanimous vote to give MDC Realty exclusive negotiating rights for 90 days came as no surprise. (MDC Realty is the real estate arm of the aerospace and defense contractor.) The City Council--whose members also make up the Redevelopment Agency--and other top officials are unanimous in pointing to the McDonnell Douglas project as a boon to the city.

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