RCI Owner Seeks Zoning Change: How This Could Affect the Golf Course

It's been 3 years since we successfully protected the RSJ Golf Course from redevelopment.  Unfortunately, our community is facing a new, similar threat as the Racquet Club of Irvine seeks to (again) rezone and sell off part of its property for a high-rise development.  Read on for more details and on how you and your neighbours can help!

As reported in a recent Irvine Watchdog article "Attempt To Rezone RCI, Part 2: 'Putting Lipstick On a Pig'", the owner of the Racquet Club of Irvine, which is located next to the Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course, is again trying to rezone his property to build a 5-story "luxury" senior living facility.

Rendition of proposed 5-story, 210,000 sf senior facility on the RCI property

​But to do this, the owner must convince the Irvine City Council to overturn a council resolution passed in 2019 that upholds RCI's commerical recreation zoning.

How does this affect the RSJ Golf Course?

Thanks to your help, the City Council unanimously passed a similar resolution in 2018 to uphold the recreation zoning of the golf course.  At that time, the golf course coalition and the community were grateful knowing that the City Council values and wants to protect the RSJ golf course.

In 2019, the Irvine community spoke up again when the RCI owner tried to rezone his property and sell it to KB Homes for a multi-story development.  Again, the City Council supported the community by unanimously passing a resolution to uphold RCI's recreational zoning.

But this could change if we don't remain vigilent and continue to speak up to the City Council.

If the City Council allows RCI to be rezoned for development, the Council will have to void their resolution that upholds the RCI's recreational zoning.

If the City Council voids the RCI resolution, we will have no assurance that we can rely on the Council's promise to continue to retain the RSJ golf course resolution and its current zoning.

Take 5 minutes and email the City Council -- TODAY!

Send an email to the Irvine City Councilmembers and urge the councilmembers to continue to protect RCI and Irvine's other recreational amenities:

• irvinecitycouncil@cityofirvine.org

We suggest you address your email as "Dear Mayor Khan and City Councilmembers Agran, Carroll, Kim, and Kuo:" and you should write your email in a respectful manner.

If you need help on what to say, use one or more of these talking points.  But write the email in your own words.  Including a personal story on how RCI and other recreational amenities benefit you & your family is a bonus. 😊 

• RCI, the RSJ golf course, Irvine Lanes, and other Irvine recreational amenities are popular and continue to serve Irvine's growing population.
  
• Our city's recreational amenities are a main reason why Irvine remains a desirable place to live and continues to attract new residents and employers.
  
• RCI, the RSJ golf course, Irvine Lanes, and other Irvine recreational amenities remain affordable for our residents and families -- unlike in other cities.
  
• The City Council must continue to uphold the city's General Plan and protect areas that are zoned for recreation, as well as our city's open spaces.
  
• As Irvine continues to grow, it's even more important to protect our recreational amenities for future residents.  If these amenities disappear, they will be gone forever and never return.
  
• When City Council upheld the RSJ golf course zoning, a new owner took over and the golf course is even more popular with over $6M being invested by its new owner.
  
  The same can happen with RCI if the City Council protects its zoning – there are potential buyers for RCI who want to run it as a recreational amenity (unlike its current owner).

Thank you for your support for the RSJ golf course, and please write the City Council to urge them to protect ALL our recreational amenities including RCI and the RSJ golf course!