TUSTIN : City Negotiating Land Trade to Expand Park
The city is considering a land swap under which it could expand a proposed park site and save about $1.5 million, Mayor Jim Potts said this week.
The city has been negotiating a deal that would allow Irvine Co. to build as many as 533 homes and apartments on a 40-acre site in east Tustin.
As part of the package, the developer would set aside 3.6 acres for a park and allow the city to have the option to buy another 1.4 acres to expand the park to five acres.
But at Monday’s council meeting, Councilman Michael J. Doyle said he was strongly opposed to having the city go into debt for the estimated $1.4-million to $1.6-million cost of the extra acreage.
“We have a three-acre park just two blocks away” from the site, Doyle said. “To put our city into debt by $1.6 million during these economic times is just awful.”
Potts, in response, said the city is negotiating with Irvine Co. officials for a possible exchange of land, but specifics have yet to be worked out.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
