IRVINE : Meetings to Focus on Amusement Park

The developers seeking to build an amusement park at the corner of Harvard Avenue and ichelson Drive will meet with residents over the next few weeks in an effort to work out differences over the controversial development.

The meetings are designed to focus on crime, parking and other issues raised by opponents of the Palace Park development.

The City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution encouraging the dialogue and asking that city officials report back on the progress of the meetings within 45 days.

Council members said the discussions will give residents a chance to express their concerns directly to the developers, who have indicated a willingness to modify parts of their proposal.

Because the proposed site is zoned for commercial recreational use, the park is considered a “permitted use” that can be built without Planning Commission and City Council hearings as long as general city guidelines are followed.

The council on Tuesday unanimously rejected a call from opponents that the Planning Commission and City Council conduct a review of the project anyway.

City Atty. Joel D. Kuperberg said requiring a more intense review process for Palace Park after the developers had begun pulling permits represented “a classic situation for litigation.” Such a move might “expose (the city) to liability,” Kuperberg added.

Several council members also said changing the planning process because of community opposition would be unfair to the developers and not a good business practice.

The council’s decision was a disappointment to the 20 or so residents who on Tuesday requested the project review. The residents--most of whom live in the nearby University Park and Westpark villages--fear the park’s miniature golf course, bumper boat rides and arcade will attract gang members to the area and increase crime, traffic and noise.

The residents argued that a full review of the project is in the best interests of the city and noted that the Planning Commission last week agreed that such developments should be the subject of public hearings and commission approval.

Gerry Johnson, a partner in the Camelot Park development group, reiterated his promise Tuesday to operate a safe park and work out a security plan with the Irvine Police Department.