Dan Jung, Director of Strategic Programs (949) 724-6424
Heather Morris, Public Information Office (949) 724-6252

IRVINE, CA – The City of Irvine reached a milestone today in its quest to transform the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into a great metropolitan park.

An application to annex the seven-square-mile military base was approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), ending a very long effort to make the base property part of the City of Irvine. Prior to approving the City’s annexation request, LAFCO conducted a comprehensive economic study of the City’s plan to develop a Great Park at El Toro.

“The El Toro Base has been located within the City’s sphere of influence since 1972 and it was always contemplated that the base would become part of the City if it were deactivated. LAFCO’s decision recognizes that the City of Irvine is the best public agency to oversee the transformation of this property from a military base to an Orange County Great Park,” said Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Mike Ward.

LAFCO’s independent analysis of the City’s Plan shows that the Great Park will generate an annual fiscal surplus of approximately $1.6 million to the County overall, which includes a surplus of $137,000 to the general fund, $198,000 to the Library Fund, and $1.2 million to the Orange County Fire Authority and that the Great Park will have a net fiscal impact to the City at build-out at approximately $626,523 after anticipated expenditures.

Commenting on the City’s plan to pay for the development and maintenance of the Great Park using private funding sources the report concluded, “The proposed financing plan, while highly innovative, appears to be sound. This analysis concludes that the project is financially feasible, and appears able to support the burden of the infrastructure needed to support it, assuming that a number of factors proceed as planned.”

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran called the LAFCO decision “A great day for the City of Irvine and all of Orange County.” He said, “El Toro will soon be part of the City of Irvine and we will have the authority to build and maintain a Great Park for the benefit of all Orange County residents.”

For more information about the Orange County Great Park, visit the City of Irvine Website at: www.ci.irvine.ca.us or www.greatpark.ci.irvine.ca.us