Irvine to Weigh Land Annexation

Nearly a year after the idea was first suggested, city officials are slowly moving toward a consensus on whether to annex 37 square miles of unincorporated land that lies in the city’s sphere of influence.

The mostly undeveloped land is located at the northeast edge of the city. Proponents argue that annexing the area will give the city more control over development and bring added fees and tax revenues.

City planning officials are now preparing a report that will list several annexation options, including:

* Attempting to annex all of the sphere at one time.

* Annexing chunks of unincorporated land as individual developments.

* Annexing just selected portions of the sphere.

* Halting all annexation activities.

The City Council is expected to explore the issue later this year.

Councilman Barry J. Hammond suggested that special attention be paid to the unincorporated lands near the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The base is slated for redevelopment--possibly as a commercial airport--when the Marines move out at the end of the decade.

Annexing land around the base would give the city more development control over the base as well as what is built near it. If the base is converted into an air cargo facility, planners expect the surrounding land will become prime real estate for commercial and industrial development.

The city’s interest in annexing the unincorporated land dates back to 1992, during the controversy over the Northwood 5 development. It was poised to annex the Northwood 5 land and approve a 2,800-home project when slow-growth advocates demanded that the issue be placed before voters.

The controversy prompted the Irvine Co. to halt annexation plans and instead develop the project through the county. As a result, the city lost $8 million in development and construction fees, officials said.

City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. said that much of the county land would be slated for residential housing.

Any annexation proposal would need approval from the Local Agency Formation Commission. The city and county would also have to agree on how to divide future tax revenues.

Irvine Expansion Irvine officials are eyeing as many as 37 square miles of unincorporated land on the city’s fringes for possible annexation. The mostly undeveloped land lies within Irvine’s “sphere of influence” but is controlled by the county.