Protect Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course
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News and Events.

Words of Support For RSJ Golf Course From Our Irvine City Councilmembers & Officials

8/30/2018

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Our RSJ golf course coalition and supporters who attended the City Council meeting on August 28th were encouraged by the public comments made by our City Councilmembers and other officials, which were made in support of protecting the RSJ golf course from development.  We thought you'd like to watch & read what they had to say.

Councilmember Melissa Fox

"...I do want to thank everyone who's come out today [to the City Council meeting]...I am so grateful that you're here today to take the time out of your lives to protect your neighborhood, and our community.

It is a core principal of Irvine that we protect our open space, and we're here today to do that.  And I wanted to thank my colleagues for bringing forth this issue -- and particularly the right time with the General Plan update -- that there could be no question now that the devotion of our City is to the protection of open space.  And so, I thank you for that."

Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo

"...as a matter of urgency, I worked with Greg Smith, who is our chairman of the Planning Commission, to get this on our agenda in really, really short order to show the community that we are leading by supporting them and we're leading by supporting them by reaffirming the current zoning, the current standards,and current and perhaps improved quality of life.

...so it was absolutely, absolutely, my humble humble opportunity and pleasure and honor to ask the commission -- I'm not here on their behalf, but I will say we vote unanimously, absolutely unanimously the five of us to reaffirm the current zoning...because it was the right thing to do.  It was the right things to do for Irvine.  It was the right thing to do for our community."

Councilmember Jeff Lalloway

"Of course I'm in favor of this {the RSJ golf course resolution]...I spoke to some of the residents before...and as I indicated then, I'm very supportive of this for two reasons:

First of all, you folks [the Irvine residents] were there first.  And when you're there first and someone else is going to move in and change the entire character of the neighborhood, you have a voice in that.  And we've heard your voice here today.  So, I think it's fair to the developer that they can try to work something out with you.  But if not, they're there after you and they need to respect that.

Secondly, I think the plan to develop student housing is problematic in of itself.  Look, I love UCI, I love the kids over there.  But mixing residents who've been here a long time... with some of us with families, it can be a very, very difficult thing.  They're {the students] out late, they're studying, they're doing other things.  We're home sleeping -- it's past my bedtime already, frankly.  So it can be a very, very problematic thing to develop student housing in the same neighborhood with families."

Transportation Commissioner Carrie O'Malley

"...When open space such as the Rancho San Joaquin golf course is compromised we are exasperating the traffic issues in our City, not trying to alleviate them.  Our open space, villages and neighborhoods were essential reasons why my husband and I chose to move to Irvine two decades ago.  We have raised our two teenage children here since their births.

But today our city stands at a vital crossroads that will shape the type of city that Irvine becomes.  I, like many other residents here today, have built a life in Irvine which extends not just to our homes but to our communities, outdoor amenities, open space, parks, trails, sports programs, and top-notch quality of life.

I urge the City Council to protect the General Plan in its decisions.  Our General Plan is the essence of Irvine that we cannot chip away at this.  Just as Santa Barbara is a beach community and Los Angeles is a metropolitan city.  Irvine's essence is that it is a master planned community that prioritizes open space.  We are truly blessed to live in such a well thought out and planned city."

Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea

"...the reason we are reaffirming the General Plan and making it very clear that our intent is not to rezone this [golf course] property for any kind of entitlement.

...​We are making it, hopefully, very clear tonight -- and I hope it's unanimous -- that we are not going to be looking at any entitlements, any approval entitlements.  And so, if someone wants to invest that kind of money [into the golf course] with the understanding that we will not be moving off the dime in regard to your protection of your property, that's their choice.  But our choice tonight is -- my choice tonight -- along with the Mayor, is to give you confidence that we will not be approving any kind of additional entitlements on that property.

...I believe that putting forward in a resolution that reaffirm our commitment to -- in the strongest way -- to let you know that we're behind you 100%.."

Councilmember Lynn Shott

"...I have to come on the side of the residents on this one, and I'll tell you why.  The reason that I will vote in favor of the motion -- in the face of being a fierce private property rights advocate -- is on balancing two sets of private property and I'm looking at trying to balance them on the way out, which is:  Which does the greatest harm?  Which does the greatest good?

And I don't minimize the seller because it's one entity and you [the community] are many.  I'm looking at how does this impact the City going forward?  How will it impact you going forward?  I think that to vote in favor of you as residents and your desires; to ask us to maintain, to keep the General Plan as it is, is consistent with the way I have voted in the past.

...In thinking back to [my] campaign literature, one of the promises was to protect the character of the villages in the city of Irvine. And so, because I had made those promises in the past, because I have voted consistently with that in the past, because the General Plan now says that [the RSJ golf course] is zoned for recreation."

Mayor Don Wagner

"​Some of the [Cushman & Wakefield] sales material which was what first got our attention when this was brought to us by community members, stating things like the Council '...is examining other possible land use designations, which creates an opportunity to create value through further densification of [this] Site.'

​That comes really, really close to being a fraudulent statement.  That was not something this Council was considering on this site; had never been presented to us.  And so, if you're moving into a process based on a statement like that or a belief that that's where this Council is, the point of tonight is to say that's not where this Council is."
Note:  View the Cushman & Wakefield sales brochure on the RSJ golf course.  Also see Why Is It For Sale? for more information.
2 Comments

City Council Votes 5-0 To Reaffirm RSJ Golf Course General Plan & Zoning!

8/28/2018

1 Comment

 
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Thanks to your support, at last night's City Council meeting, Councilmembers voted unanimously 5-0 to direct City staff come back with a legal resolution to reaffirm the existing General Plan and zoning for the RSJ golf course.

This is in addition to last week's Planning Commission unanimous 5-0 vote to also uphold the current General Plan and zoning for the RSJ golf course.

Once this legal resolution is passed by City Council at their next meeting on September 12th, it will mean that if a developer submits an application to change the General Plan and zoning for the RSJ golf course to allow new development on the property, the City will deny the application.

We thank Mayor Don Wagner and Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea for including tonight's agenda item to discuss the RSJ golf course.  We also thank Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo and Transportation Commissioner Carrie O'Malley for speaking in favor of the resolution to uphold the General Plan and zoning for the RSJ golf course.

And we would like to thank all of the City Councilmembers for their support on protecting and preserving the RSJ golf course for all the Irvine residents:​​
  • Mayor Don Wagner
  • ​Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea
  • Councilmember Melissa Fox
  • Councilmember Jeffrey Lalloway
  • Councilmember Lynn Schott

And lastly, we thank ALL of our supporters for staying very late (past 10pm!) and attending and speaking at tonight's City Council meeting!  We couldn't have done this without all of you!!

More news and updates to come tomorrow!  Make sure you've signed up on our email list to get the latest news on the RSJ golf course!
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RSJ Golf Course Banners Are Popping Up Everywhere!

8/25/2018

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If you take a drive or walk around the Rancho San Joaquin golf course, you'll see that the green "Save Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course" banners are popping up everywhere along the golf course and along University Drive!  You can still place an order for a 6' by 3' vinyl banner on our website.

Thanks to all of our supporters who want to protect RSJ golf course from development and keep it as an open space amenity for all Irvine residents!
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Attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 28th

8/21/2018

2 Comments

 
We are now focused on winning "round 2" of our fight to protect the Rancho San Joaquin golf course from development.  ("Round 1" was last week's 5-0 Irvine Planning Commission vote to reaffirm the current General Plan and zoning of the RSJ golf course.)

The Irvine City Council has added an agenda item 8.6:
  • CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FROM MAYOR WAGNER AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE SHEA FOR DISCUSSION OF RANCHO SAN JOAQUIN GOLF COURSE.

This agenda item is similar to what was voted upon at last week's Planning Commission meeting.  We expect the City Council will vote on a similar resolution to reaffirm the General Plan so that any future application to change the zoning for the golf course property will be denied at the City Council.

Technically, a developer whose application to change the General Plan and zoning for the RSJ golf course that's denied by the Planning Commission, can appeal to the City Council for reconsideration.  

That's why it's important that we have alot of supporters attend the City Council meeting:
  • Tuesday, August 28th
  • Irvine City Hall, 1 Civic Center Dr, Irvine 92606 (view on Google Maps)
  • Arrive in the City Hall lobby between 5:30pm and 6:00pm
  • Wear a green shirt, if possible

We don't have an exact time of when the RSJ golf course agenda item will be discussed in the council meeting but everyone should arrive at City Hall no later than 6:00pm.  We'll have small signs to pass out to everyone.
 

Planning to speak?

Email us at protectrsjgolfcourse@gmail.com if you would like to speak at the City Council meeting.  Or click on the blue button below to sign up.

We'd like each speaker to write a letter to the City Council as part of their 3-minute speech and email their letter to us so that we can bind them together and present the copies to the City Councilmembers.
​
  • Download our letter template (MS Word .docx format)
  • View our tips and talking points for speaking at a council meeting
Sign Up To Speak or Attend the Meeting
2 Comments

UCI Letter States No Interest in RSJ Golf Course Development

8/19/2018

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This past Friday, our coalition received a copy of a letter dated August 16th which was written by Ronald S. Cortez, CFO and Vice Chancellor of UCI's Division of Finance and Administration.  The letter was forwarded to us by P. Alberto Sandoval, UCI Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. 

The letter is addressed to Mo Honarkar who is the potential buyer of the Rancho San Joaquin golf course, and who has proposed to build UCI student housing on the golf course property at University and Harvard.  ​Read the letter from UCI

In the letter Vice Chancellor Cortez states the following to Mr. Honarkar:

"...As we discussed, UCI has many student housing projects in various stages of development, and we are positioned to accommodate the on-campus housing needs of our students. As such, we cannot partner with you or assist you in your development plans at this time." *

Vice Chancellor Cortez continues on and states:

"As we indicated previously, affordable housing for students in our community remains a priority. We remain supportive of affordable student housing projects; however, we are not in a position to endorse external housing projects." *

In addition, Mr. Sandoval who forwarded Vice Chancellor Cortez's letter to us, stated in an email to us:

"Thank you for your interest in the future of San Joaquin Golf Course and how it relates to UCI.  As a result of your email, I investigated UCI’s position on the project.  I can confirm that the university is not participating in the redevelopment of the golf course and is not endorsing the developer’s plans for student housing.  The attached letter [from Vice Chancellor Cortez] makes our intentions clear." *

* Bold text added for emphasis

We believe Vice Chancellor Cortez makes clear that UCI has no interest in cooperating with Mr. Honarkar on his proposal to build "external" student housing on the RSJ golf course property. 

Coupled with the Planning Commission's 5-0 vote on August 16th to reaffirm the General Plan and current zoning for the RSJ golf course, we hope this letter from UCI gives comfort to our Irvine community that UCI has no interest in student housing to be built on the golf course.

Read the Letter From UCI
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5-0 Decision to Maintain General Plan for RSJ Golf Course!

8/17/2018

4 Comments

 
Last night the Irvine Planning Commission held a Special Meeting immediately following their regular, twice-monthly meeting to discuss an emergency agenda item regarding the Rancho San Joaquin golf course.  The Planning Commission proposed a resolution to uphold the City's General Plan with no changes to be considered for the RSJ golf course.  The vote was 5-0 in favor of the resolution. 

This decision means that if a General Plan amendment application was submitted to the Planning Commission by a developer to change the zoning of the RSJ golf course to allow additional development on the golf course property, it will be denied by the Planning Commission.

Here's what one of our Irvine residents observed during the meeting:

"The Irvine Planning Commission met last night in a special meeting to address the looming issue about the possible sale of the golf course to Mo Honarkar. About 100 pumped-up residents with signs packed the meeting room and spilled out into the halls.

After two hours of public comment (with dozens more waiting to comment, including me) the Chairman [Greg Smith] paused the meeting and told the crowd that he'd allow all comments to be heard but given that it was now 9:45 pm perhaps everyone would rather hear 'action' than additional comments. He hinted that the commissioners had heard enough and would like to move on to discussion and a vote. We applauded with a 'go-ahead.'

"They discussed for 10 minutes, then voted at 9:55 pm. It was a resounding 5-0 in favor of a motion proposed by Commissioner Anthony Kuo that said they would not consider any request for a zoning change of the golf course property. It means that any such application would die at their level.

"The Commissioners got a standing ovation. The Chairman said in all his years in City government he had never been applauded like that by attendees of a public meeting. His response to us was, 'This happened because you were organized, reasonable and of one voice.'"


Our RSJ Golf Course Coalition thanks Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo for placing this item on the agenda.  We also thank Chair Greg Smith for calling the special meeting.  And, we thank ALL of the Planning Commissioners who voted to affirm the continued designation under the General Plan of the current zoning for the RSJ Golf Course site:
  • Chair Greg Smith
  • Vice Chair Dustin Nirschl
  • Chair Pro Tem John Duong
  • Commissioner Patty Bartlett
  • Commissioner Anthony Kuo

This same agenda item to uphold the General Plan will be on the City Council meeting agenda which will be held on Tuesday, August 28th.  We ask for everyone's support to attend and/or speak at this next City Council meeting.  Be sure to add yourself to our email list on the website's main page so that you can receive details on attending the August 28th meeting.
Click to enlarge
Click photo to enlarge
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RSJ Golf Course is one of the best birding locations in SoCal

8/14/2018

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The Rancho San Joaquin golf course is part of a contiguous wildlife corridor for a variety of migratory birds and wildlife. Because of this, it's one of the best birding locations in Southern California. Over 282 bird species, including 170 regularly-occurring species have been observed in this area.
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View just some of the 282 bird species spotted on the RSJ golf course by one of our Irvine residents who lives in Rancho San Joaquin.  The photos of these beautiful birds were all taken at the RSJ golf course.
Read the Full Story
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Photos from our August 12th community meeting

8/13/2018

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Here are some photos taken by our coalition's expert photographer :-) of the first of two meetings that were held for the community on Sunday, August 12th. The crowd was even larger at the second meeting!

Thanks to all who attended, and we especially thank our special guests: Councilmembers Christina Shea and Melissa Fox, Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo, Community Services Commissioner Lauren Johnson-Norris, Transportation Commissioner Carrie O'Malley, and City Council candidates Kev Abazajian, Farrah Khan, Frank McGill, and Jaci Woods. (Anthony, Lauren and Carrie are also running for City Council.)

Also, view the presentation slides from the Community Meeting:
View Presentation Slides
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See what was spotted last night by the RSJ golf course

8/13/2018

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One of our Irvine residents who attended our Sunday, August 12th community meeting about the RSJ golf course, wrote to us and sent this photo he took that evening by the golf course.

"...I took this photo on my way home from this evening’s meeting, which shows a flock of Canadian geese on a twilight flight above the the golf course while the Crescent moon shines above."  
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What does 25 acres of development look like on a golf course?

8/9/2018

4 Comments

 
The potential buyer of the Rancho San Joaquin golf course has proposed to build an 800-unit housing development on 25 acres on the golf course at the corner of Harvard and University.

But what does 25 acres look like?  And how much open space on the golf course will be taken up by this proposed development?

We took a satellite image of the golf course on Google Maps and used a common mapmaker tool that measures acreage drawn on the map, and here's what we came up with (view larger image):
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You be the judge.  But in our opinion, this would be a massive development in an existing community.  Add to that 3,200 residents or students to the mix and you have a massive increase in traffic and congestion in addition to what Irvine residents and commuters are already experiencing along Culver, Harvard, Michelson and University.

Not only would this type of proposed development require a drastic change to the City's General Plan, it would require a major zoning change to Irvine's Planning Area 19, which encompasses the golf course.

This type of massive high-density development is totally incongruent to the existing Irvine villages of Rancho San Joaquin, University Town Center and University Park, and hopefully our Irvine City Council and our Planning Commission agrees.

Take action and write to our City officials and let them know that development on the RSJ  golf course should not happen and they should not even consider changing the General Plan and zoning for Planning Area 19.
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​Coalition To Protect Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course  •  P.O. Box 5475, Irvine, CA 92616
protectrsjgolfcourse@gmail.com  
•  Tel 949-423-3677
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© 2020 Coalition To Protect Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Coalition
    • Who Supports Us?
  • Learn More
    • RSJ Golf Course Is Viable And Profitable
    • Why Was It For Sale?
    • City Council Golf Course Resolution
    • What Was Proposed?
    • How Could This Affect Me?
    • Bird Sightings At RSJ Golf Course
  • Ways To Help
    • Stay Informed
    • Sign Our Petition
    • Donate >
      • Our Donor Patrons
    • Order a Banner
  • News and Events
  • Contact Us