News Summary
The Irvine City Council is exploring a proposal to transform the Oak Creek Golf Club into a residential community featuring 1,500 single-family homes and 1,600 apartments. This plan follows growing housing demands in the area, as the city’s population has surged in recent years. While city officials debate whether a public vote is needed, the Irvine Company proposes new public amenities in exchange for input on the project. The outcome could reshape Irvine’s landscape and address critical housing needs amid ongoing discussions.
Irvine – The Irvine City Council is seeking public input on a proposal from the Irvine Company to redevelop the Oak Creek Golf Club into a residential community, comprising 1,500 single-family homes and 1,600 apartments. This development would mark a significant change to land that was designated as permanent open space following a conservation initiative supported by local voters in 1988.
The land in question is currently privately owned by the Irvine Company, which aims to address pressing housing needs amid increasing demand in a city that has grown significantly in recent years. The population of Irvine has surged by 34% over the past decade, leading to challenges related to affordability and housing availability, with state mandates requiring the zoning of over 50,000 new homes in the next ten years.
City officials are currently divided on whether the proposed changes to the open space designation require a voter-approved amendment or if they can be executed unilaterally by the City Council. However, the council members have expressed a preference for a citywide vote, which could allow residents to decide on the amendment this coming November. If the council moves forward with this strategy, it will be the first time since the law’s passage 37 years ago that the development of permanently designated open space is being considered.
In a bid to gain public support for the project, the Irvine Company has proposed transferring 315 acres of open space to the city and relinquishing operational control over 565 acres of orchards. The development plan also includes provisions for constructing a new school nearby, catering to the needs of the prospective community.
Since the announcement of the redevelopment proposal in May, the city has received numerous comments from residents, reflecting both support for and opposition to the project. In the interim, the City Council is conducting various analyses and technical studies on the development, a process expected to take about a year. The council will only discuss the project’s merits after the amendment passes and these studies are completed.
The Oak Creek Golf Course, operational since 1996, has seen decreasing usage among local residents, partly due to its high green fees. The Irvine Company views the golf course as expendable in light of the proposed development and hopes to counterbalance the loss of open space by donating avocado groves to enhance a nearby nature preserve. Additionally, plans are in place to repurpose the existing golf course clubhouse into a community center.
As part of its commitment to public benefits, the Irvine Company has planned to pay up to $96 million in fees to the city and to offer 2,000 rent vouchers aimed at supporting affordable housing initiatives. The company’s proposal is consistent with a national trend where underused golf courses are converted into residential projects, responding to evolving community needs.
The Irvine Spectrum District Village project is planned to be located just south of the 5 Freeway, incorporating additional amenities such as parks and improvements for local traffic. Public discussions surrounding the planning and framework of the residential development are ongoing, with a memorandum of understanding anticipated to be debated in future council meetings.
The outcome of this proposed development will not only shape the physical landscape of Irvine but will also test the balance between maintaining open spaces and addressing the critical need for housing as the city continues to grow and evolve.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Irvine Voters Likely to Decide Fate of 3,100 Home Oak Creek Proposal
- Wikipedia: Irvine, California
- Bisnow: Irvine Co. Wants to Replace Irvine Golf Course with 1,500 New Homes
- Google Search: Irvine California Housing Development
- KFI AM 640: Irvine Co. Plans 3,100 Home Village on Golf Course Site
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing
- OC Business Journal: Irvine Co. Proposes New Housing for Spectrum Area
- Google News: Irvine Golf Course Redevelopment
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
