IRVINE : Official Concedes Loss on Village 38

As a political activist, Marc Goldstone entered the civic limelight by fighting Irvine Co. efforts to build thousands of new homes in the city.

But as coincidence would have it, Goldstone, a newly sworn-in planning commissioner, cast his very first vote in favor of a condominium project on Irvine Co. land.

Goldstone, 37, made his name in the community as an opponent of what he called “rampant expansion” being brought on by the Irvine Co. And although he fought hard to overturn the City Council’s approval of a project known as Village 38, Goldstone acknowledged this week that he lost that fight and now it was time to move on.

“Though I may have fought Village 38 in the past, I am here to make sure it is the best community that could be built,” Goldstone said before casting his vote to approve 167 condominiums.

The condominiums are expected to be the first of 3,850 homes the City Council approved in 1990 and voters endorsed the following year after Goldstone and other members of the Irvine Tomorrow group circulated petitions to overrule the council and put the matter on the ballot.

Although the land has been approved for 3,850 homes, each specific development plan showing streets, parks and residential layouts must be approved by the Planning Commission. The project will be built on Irvine Co. land along Culver Drive between Barranca Parkway and Irvine Center Drive.

Goldstone said Thursday night that even though he cannot stop the homes from being built, he will fight to ensure that the new community is the best for Irvine. One of his highest priorities is to get the Irvine Co. to remove a green construction fence along Culver Drive that stretches hundreds of feet between Irvine Center Drive and Barranca, he said.

Goldstone was appointed to the Planning Commission by Councilwoman Paula Werner, replacing former commissioner Kate Clark. Goldstone, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in November, was not the only defeated candidate to find himself on the Planning Commission.

Unsuccessful City Council candidate Kenneth Bruner also began his stint on the commission Thursday. He was appointed by newly elected Mayor Michael Ward. Commissioners unanimously appointed Bruner as the commission chairman. A third new commissioner, David Christensen, was appointed by newly elected Councilwoman Christina L. Shea.

The three new commissioners join continuing commission members Scott Peotter and Lowell Johnson.