Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  25-000511

 

MEETING DATE:

10/14/25

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

3

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

County Executive Office   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Thomas A. Miller (714) 834-6019 

 

 

Brian Bauer (714) 834-5663

 

 

Subject:  Approve Agreements for Sale of Parcels to the City of Irvine

 

      ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

          Concur

Approved Agreement to Form

Discussion

 

 

4/5 Vote

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost:   N/A

Annual Cost: FY 2026-27 $200,000

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:            

Sole Source:   N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

   Funding Source:     See Financial Impact Section

County Audit in last 3 years: No

   Levine Act Review Completed: N/A

 

    Prior Board Action:         8/17/2010 #19; 8/8/1984 #1, 7/17/1984 #28

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

1.

Find that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Class 12 (Surplus Government Property Sales) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15312.

 

2.

Approve the Option to Purchase Agreement with the City of Irvine, to complete its due diligence to purchase two County owned parcels, which are not required for County use, located at the north side of Bee Canyon Access Road, east of Portola Parkway, totaling approximately 1.97 Acres in unincorporated Orange County, and authorize the Chief Real Estate Officer or designee to execute the Option to Purchase Agreement in substantially the form attached with minor modifications that do not increase the cost or liability to the County, for a term of up to thirty-six months, with an option to extend the Option term for up to one additional year in order to fulfill the Option requirements. 

 


 

3.

Approve the Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions authorizing the sale of the two County-owned parcels in unincorporated Orange County, located at the north side of Bee Canyon Access Road, east of Portola Parkway, totaling approximately 1.97 Acres to the City of Irvine, for the purchase price of $9,259,000 to be satisfied through a deduction to the County’s Fair Share Obligation under Implementation Agreement No. 2 between City of Irvine, Irvine Redevelopment Agency and County of Orange, and authorize the Chief Real Estate Officer or designee to execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions, including minor modifications that do not materially alter the terms of the transaction or increase the cost or liability to the County, with approval of County Counsel, and upon fulfillment of conditions precedent in the Option to Purchase Agreement.

 

4.

Approve the Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2, which will reduce the County’s fair share obligation to the City of Irvine by $9,259,000, in consideration for the sale of the land, and authorize the Chief Real Estate Officer or designee to execute the Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2 in substantially the form attached, including minor modifications that do not materially alter the terms of the transaction or increase the cost or liability to the County, with approval of County Counsel.

 

5.

Authorize the Chief Real Estate Officer or designee to execute any and all necessary documents related to the sale of the two parcels to the City of Irvine, and take any required actions to complete the property sale with the City of Irvine in accordance with the Option to Purchase Agreement and Purchase and Sale Agreement, including making minor modifications and amendments that do not materially alter the terms of the transaction or increase the cost or liability to the County, and to sign related documents and perform related actions as required to finalize due diligence, complete the purchase and close escrow, including executing the final Grant Deed for transfer of the property.

 

6.

Authorize the reimbursement to the OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund 299 for the value of the acreage in the amount of $200,000 out of Fund 15T (El Toro Improvement Fund).

 

7.

Direct County staff to work with the City of Irvine and Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (OC LAFCO) on the annexation of the two parcels to the City of Irvine.

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Approval of the Option to Purchase Agreement, Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions, and Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2 will allow the County to sell its two surplus parcels to the City of Irvine, which it requires for its proposed Gateway Village residential development, providing $9,259,000 to the County to be utilized to directly reduce the County’s fair share obligation to the City of Irvine under Implementation Agreement No. 2, significantly lowering the County’s financial obligation for required infrastructure costs and ensure the ongoing beneficial use of the County’s property at the former MCAS El Toro.

 

 


 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

On July 17, 1984, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Resolution No. 84-1113, declaring its intention to purchase approximately 846 acres of land from The Irvine Company (TIC) for the development of the Bee Canyon Refuse Disposal Site and Access Road (Disposal Site), for a total consideration of $8,400,000.  On August 8, 1984, the Board approved the County’s purchase of the Disposal Site, which is now known as the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill.

 

The City of Irvine

The City of Irvine (City), entered into an agreement with Brookfield Properties for 70 acres for its proposed development of approximately 1,236 homes (Gateway Village), located at the northeast corner of Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway.   Included within the development are two County-owned parcels of land, totaling approximately 1.97 acres (Notch Parcels), located in an unincorporated area of Orange County adjacent to the Bee Canyon Access Road, which is the primary entrance to the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill.  See Attachment A for Location Map.

 

In Fall 2024, the City initiated discussions with the County regarding the possible acquisition of the Notch Parcels which are necessary for the Gateway Village project. These Notch Parcels are excess roadway, surplus to County needs, with a value of approximately $100,000 per acre if valued based on current open space zoning with no deed restrictions, which is the current land use designation.

 

The City is currently in the process of entitling the Gateway Village project. By including the Notch Parcels in the development, the potential value of the property for the City significantly increases, as these parcels would then be zoned for residential development. Utilizing the valuation methodology from its agreement with Brookfield Properties, the City has offered to acquire the Notch Parcels from the County for approximately $4,700,000 per gross acre, totaling $9,259,000.

 

CEO Real Estate is seeking Board approval to finalize negotiations with the City for the sale of these Notch Parcels, through an Option to Purchase Agreement (Attachment B), for a thirty-six (36) month option term for an option price of one dollar ($1), with an option to extend the term for one (1) additional year. If conditions are satisfied, the County and City would execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement (Attachment D), and Grant Deed (Attachment E).

 

Pursuant to Government Code Section 25365(a) (Attachment F), the County is permitted to transfer property to the City "upon the terms and conditions as are agreed upon and without complying with any other provisions of this code" upon 4/5 vote of the Board of Supervisors when the property to be conveyed is not required for County use. The Notch Parcels are adjacent to the Bee Canyon Access Road but are not part of the roadway or the road right-of-way necessary for the operation of the road and are therefore not required for the County’s use.

 

Fair Share Obligation Under Implementation Agreement No. 2

On August 17, 2010, the Board approved Implementation Agreement No. 2 which set forth certain agreements between the City and County with respect to the long-term development and use of the County’s properties at El Toro and the County’s fair share contribution for infrastructure servicing the property (Fair Share).  Implementation Agreement No. 2 requires the County to pay the City up to $15,600,000, representative of its Fair Share, towards “developing and installing the infrastructure improvements directly related to servicing the premises” including Marine Way.  This payment has not become due yet but is anticipated to be due soon and paid from a combination of funds from El Toro Improvement Fund 15T (Fund 15T) and General Fund revenue, as available.

 

In lieu of a $9,259,000 payment for the sale of the Notch Parcels, the City has offered to enter into an Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2 (Attachment C) with the County, which would formally memorialize this reduction in the County’s Fair Share obligation, serving to reduce the County’s Fair Share obligation to approximately $6,341,000.  This transaction will directly benefit the County and its El Toro properties by contributing to the payment of the Fair Share obligation, and therefore assisting in paying for the El Toro infrastructure.  It will also result in there being sufficient funds in Fund 15T for the remainder of the County’s Fair Share obligation, with no assistance required from the County General Fund.

 

OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund

The Notch Parcels were acquired by the County in 1984, as part of a purchase transaction with TIC, pursuant to which the County acquired approximately 846 acres for the Disposal Site.  The $8,400,000 purchase price was paid out of the Capital Projects Budget but was “to be reimbursed by the Waste Management Enterprise Fund.” 

 

As the original purchase price for the Disposal Site property was paid for out of OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund 299, CEO Real Estate proposes to reimburse the fund the approximate value of the parcels with their present zoning designation.  The parcels are zoned for open space, but are not deed restricted for that purpose, which would permit a buyer to rezone the properties for an alternate use.  Based on this, the current approximate value would be $100,000 per acre. Thus, for the two acres to be acquired, $200,000 would be returned to the OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund as reimbursement for the original purchase price.

 

As set forth above, this transaction with the City for the two acres directly benefits the County’s properties at El Toro since the transaction will result in a significant reduction in the County’s Fair Share obligation, pursuant to Implementation Agreement No. 2 and will insure the ongoing beneficial use by the County of its 100-Acre parcel at El Toro.  Due to this direct benefit, CEO Real Estate is proposing the reimbursement to OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund 299 with funds from Fund 15T, which are restricted for use that benefit the County’s properties at El Toro.

 

On September 9, 2025, the City's council approved the Option to Purchase Agreement and Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2.  Should the Board approve the Option to Purchase Agreement and it be exercised by the City, County staff would work with the City and OC LAFCO on the annexation of the parcels to the City of Irvine, including the development of a Property Tax Exchange Resolution for approval by both the City and County.

 

Compliance with CEQA: The proposed project is categorically exempt (Class 12) from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15312, because it provides for the sale of surplus government property that is not within an area of statewide, regional or areawide concern.

 

General Plan: The Project is consistent with the General Plan of City of Irvine, pursuant to Government Code Section 65402(b).

 

 


 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

In lieu of a $9,259,000 payment for the sale of the Notch Parcels, the City and County have agreed to a reduction in the County’s Fair Share obligation for the infrastructure improvements in El Toro, from $15,600,000 to approximately $6,341,000. This reduction will be covered primarily through Fund 15T, minimizing the need for assistance from the County General Fund.

 

Appropriations to reimburse OC Waste & Recycling Enterprise Fund 299 for the portion of the Disposal Site property acquired in 1984, based on the approximate value at its present zoning as open space, and it will be included in Fund 15T, El Toro Improvement Fund, FY 2026-27 Budget.

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A – Location Map
Attachment B – Option Agreement
Attachment C – Addendum to Implementation Agreement No. 2
Attachment D – Purchase and Sale Agreement
Attachment E – Grant Deed
Attachment F – California Government Code Section 25365