Judge Upholds Massive Irvine Project

An Orange County Superior Court judge has rejected a lawsuit to halt Irvine’s plan to build a community of 35,000 residents -- a population that equals San Juan Capistrano -- on land around the closed El Toro Marine base.

The Newport Beach-based group Defend the Bay had challenged the 7,743-acre project in July, saying the city’s environmental review was inadequate and failed to consider the effect of the increased traffic, loss of agricultural land and other factors.

In a ruling released Thursday, Judge C. Robert Jameson dismissed that argument and found that Irvine had conducted an adequate environmental review and had addressed concerns about traffic, additional police protection, environmental effects and other issues. The judge said the evidence backs the city’s assertion that the Irvine Co.’s Northern Sphere development would have a beneficial effect.

Mayor Larry Agran praised the ruling and said the Northern Sphere community will be “the crown jewel of our planned community.” Agran said the City Council had approved the development after more than 50 public hearings.

The plan permits the construction of 12,350 homes and more than 7 million square feet of commercial space on county land near the Irvine Spectrum that the city plans to annex. It will provide housing for 35,000 residents, about a quarter of Irvine’s current population.

Robert Caustin, executive director of Defend the Bay, said the project is far too dense and will destroy the region’s charm by paving over thousands of acres of farmland. “It’s a shame, and I respectfully disagree with the judge,” he said. “When it’s built out in 20 years, we’re going to look back and say, ‘Boy, what happened?’ It’s the Los Angeles-ization of Orange County.”

Caustin acknowledged that the ruling clears the way for the development and said that mounting other legal challenges would be difficult. “I think the council represented the Irvine Co. very well,” he said, criticizing the political influence of the development corporation.

Irvine Co. spokesman John Christensen said the judge tossed out the lawsuit because the evidence showed the city was careful, fair and responsive to its constituents when it reviewed the development plans.

“This ruling validates the integrity and thoroughness of the city’s environmental assessment process,” he said.

Agran said the project will include 1,800 units of much-needed affordable housing and thousands of acres of open space and recreational areas. Plus, the community will be next to the so-called Great Park, which county voters approved to replace a commercial airport at the base.

“The Northern Sphere was always envisioned and approved in conjunction with our anticipation that the El Toro property would be converted into a Great Park,” he said. “We’re glad it will come sooner rather than later.”