HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1 - Eric HiguchiWoodward, Carrie
From: noreply@granicusideas.com
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5:26 PM
To: Yasuda, Erica; Woodward, Carrie; E-Comments
Subject: New eComment for Regular Meeting of the City Council/Special Closed Session-4:30
pm/Regular Meeting-7:00 pm
City of Tustin, CA
New eComment for Regular Meeting of the City
Council/Special Closed Session-4:30 pm/Regular
Meeting-7:00 pm
Eric Higuchi submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: Regular Meeting of the City Council/Special Closed Session-4:30 pm/Regular Meeting-
7:00 pm
Item: 1. DEVELOPMENT UPDATES FROM FORMER MARINE CORPS AIR STATION TUSTIN
PROPERTY RECIPIENTS On October 17, 2023, Mayor Pro Tem (then Council Member)
Gallagher (co -signed by Council Member Gomez) requested the City Council's consideration to
convene a Local Reuse Authority meeting to receive development activity updates from the
public/non-profit entities responsible for development at former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin.
On November 7, 2023, the entire City Council directed staff to schedule this meeting in 2024.
Accordingly, presentations will be provided by the public/non-profit entities responsible for
development at former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin and discussion by the City Council acting
as the Federally recognized Local Reuse Authority for former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin.
eComment: I believe an advisory committee should be formed to provide additional oversight
and facilitate transparency between the City of Tustin and the public. Key items that should be
addressed by a committee would include: • Preservation of Tustin's Military Heritage (e.g.,
preservation of the control tower; outreach to base alumni and potentially vested military groups).
• Investigation of the Re -Use of the South Hangar. • Advise on Architectural Design Review.
Advise on Developer Selection. • Review Capital Expenditure and Operational Expenditure
Related to Tustin Legacy Development. I personally do not like the creation of additional
bureaucracy however I believe further oversight is now merited as: (i) Development of Tustin
Legacy has been Significantly Delayed. Whether that's due to Covid-19 or the Surplus Land Act,
public transparency on the City's development activities and schedule should be prioritized as
staff and the contractors should be held accountable to contemplated schedules. (ii)
Development is Costly. Expenditure of City funds towards development should not only be
overseen to confirm effective spending but also that the bidding process is fair. (iii) Developer
Selection Process Is Inefficient. The Irvine Company, Five Point Communities, and Rancho
Mission Viejo are achieving higher land residuals and are more quickly disposing of land. The
process that the City runs to dispose of land is extraordinarily lengthy and City input on design
and product substantially erodes.land value. In addition, I have received numerous emails from
residential builders who were unaware of the City's offering. I have received numerous emails
from land developers who were told their offers were not going to be considered. (iv) Forgetting
Tustin's Military Heritage. The City has done an excellent job preserving the historic character of
Old Town and it's agricultural heritage. However, we seem to forget that we are a military town,
many of our residents were brought here because of the base, and people throughout the US
know about Tustin because they were stationed here. Signage, architectural homages, and
names are meaningless unless the community is afforded the opportunity to weigh in
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