Orange County Fair leaders eye land at closed Marine base

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- City leaders said it is too soon to worry about the

possible southern migration of the Orange County Fairgrounds but added

that even the possibility poses numerous hypothetical questions.

Becky Bailey-Findley, general manager and chief executive of the

Orange County Fairgrounds, said fair officials requested 300 acres of the

closed El Toro Marine base for possible expansion or relocation of the

fair as part of Irvine’s attempt to annex the 3,200-acre parcel.

Orange County supervisors voted Tuesday to support Irvine’s plan to

acquire, annex and develop the closed El Toro Marine base -- a plan that

includes a large designation for the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Bailey-Findley said fair officials were prompted to apply for the land

to pursue an off-campus equestrian center, which is part of the

fairgrounds’ 10-year master plan.

The existing site on Fair Drive is 160 acres. Fair officials are

asking for nearly double that amount of land at the closed base.

Bailey-Findley said officials picked the “nice round figure” because

there is so much land available.

“It’s just a goal on our part to ask for that number and see if it

will be considered,” Bailey-Findley said. “The idea of relocating

completely is very, very preliminary.”

If the fair were to head south, it opens a variety of possibilities

for the state-owned land bordered by the Costa Mesa Freeway, Fair Drive,

Fairview Road and Arlington Drive.

City Manager Allan Roeder said the city would be interested in the

land, but only if it could be acquired for a nominal price.

“If they should relocate, then that property should be made available

to the city, not traded or sold off for some other commercial or economic

use,” Roeder said.

Given the state’s financial crisis, that option may be unlikely,

Roeder said.

“My sense is that [the state] would have to think long and hard about

that property simply being given to the city,” Roeder said.

A slew of “ifs” peppered each of Roeder’s statements about the

possible use of the land.

If Irvine succeeds in annexing and properly cleaning the closed base .

. .

If fair officials decide to move the entire site to South County . . .

If Costa Mesa could acquire the land at 88 Fair Drive from the state .

. .

If all those factors should fall into place, Roeder predicted the city

would use the land for more parks and field space.

“Obviously the first thing that leaps to mind is the city’s need for

more parks and recreation,” Roeder said.

Kim Pederson, a parks and recreation commissioner, said that would be

his dream for the site. In addition to more playing fields and open

space, the city could have the perfect spot for a long-awaited skate

park.

“We sure could build a big one there,” Pederson said about a possible

skate park.

People should not get ahead of themselves, Roeder warned. Many hurdles

have yet to be crossed and any possible use of the fairgrounds would have

to be carefully planned and budgeted.

Roeder also outlined a concern that his fellow Orange County city

managers have warned against, and that is allowing the closed base to be

developed in such a way that existing county businesses could be lured to

the South County site with a promise of cheap land -- a move that could

potentially rob other cities of sales tax and greatly diminish their

coffers.

“Cities cannot hope to compete with an offer of cheap land,” Roeder

said.

Ed Fawcett, president and chief executive of the Costa Mesa Chamber of

Commerce, said he is not worried. Irvine has too many hurdles to clear

before the fairgrounds’ relocation is a possibility, he added, and he

refuses to fret about it yet.

“We have plenty of time to sweat over it,” Fawcett said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .