School District’s Plans for Two Sites Don’t Include City
The city might have to begin shopping around for new land to build parks.
Officials had been in negotiations to buy one piece of property and lease another from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, but district officials said Wednesday that they have other plans for the land.
Supt. Mac Bernd said he will ask the board of education to reverse an earlier decision to sell the Monte Vista School site. He will also request that the board consider selling the farmland adjacent to Costa Mesa High School for residential development.
In December, the city placed a bid to buy the Monte Vista School when the district placed it up for sale. The city had planned to convert the land into a park.
The city also was expecting to lease the farm site from the school district to build a sports complex with a football stadium and track, soccer fields and other recreational facilities.
Mayor Joe Erickson said if the board adopts Bernd’s recommendations, it will slow down the city’s park plans, but added that identifying sites and developing new parks remain priorities for the city.
Both properties will be discussed at the board meeting Feb. 27.
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