Panel Approves Higher Great Park Fees
The Irvine Planning Commission on Thursday approved higher infrastructure fees for developers of the planned Orange County Great Park at the closed El Toro Marine base.
Under the new development agreement, approved on a 4-0 vote, Great Park builders will be required to pay $220 million in fees rather than the $200 million Irvine proposed a year ago.
The City Council must ratify the commission’s recommendation July 13.
The fee hikes are needed because delays in the sale of land at the former airfield has increased the cost of building roads and utility lines in the redevelopment project, Irvine officials said.
The Navy announced this year that it intends to sell 3,700 acres of base land, divided into four parcels, in phases rather than one auction as previously planned. The first parcel is expected to be sold this fall, the last at the end of 2005.
The delay means infrastructure work will cost about $40 million more because of rising material costs and financing costs, Irvine officials said.
They estimated the total cost at $411 million, $191 million of which will come from special property levies on those who settle in the Great Park.
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