Irvine : Controversial EIR Issue Given Council
The Planning Commission decided Thursday night to send a controversial decision that could halt development in much of the city to the City Council after deadlocking on the issue in a 2-2 vote.
The commission decided Nov. 6 that a 1982 environmental impact report on the Irvine Business Complex near John Wayne Airport is inadequate to support Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co.’s plan to build 1.5 million square feet of new office space near Fluor Corp.’s headquarters.
Commission member Steven Kuhn changed his mind and voted at Thursday night’s session to accept the 1982 environmental report. But panel member Marlene Bambera, who had voted Nov. 6 to accept the report, was absent Thursday, leaving the commission locked in a 2-2 vote.
After the vote, both factions on the commission agreed to send the issue to the council for a decision.
Earlier this week, council members Dave Baker and Sally Anne Miller charged that the Nov. 6 decision would be a “de facto moratorium” on development in many areas of the city.
The same EIR has been used repeatedly to justify developments elsewhere, including the Irvine Co.’s 4,000-unit housing development in West Park between the San Diego Freeway and Barranca Road.
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