Irvine Postpones a Decision on Bonita Canyon
A decision on whether to allow Newport Beach to annex Bonita Canyon was postponed Tuesday by the Irvine City Council.
Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea has threatened to pull out of the deal to give Newport Beach 334 acres unless that city agrees to never interfere with Irvine’s attempts to annex the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.
Officials in Irvine want the base because they oppose converting it to a commercial airport. Newport Beach is a major supporter of the airport plan.
The Bonita Canyon deal would give the Newport-Mesa Unified School District more than $6 million in developers fees, which it plans to use to upgrade schools. The deal also would prevent the Irvine Unified School District from having to build a new elementary school in Bonita Canyon.
The Irvine council is scheduled to consider the issue again in two weeks.
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