County holds off decision on park

Orange County Supervisors on Tuesday stalled a decision on selling the city of Newport Beach a vacant parcel on Birch Street at Mesa Drive for $1. The city plans to turn the site — about two-thirds of an acre — into a passive park but can’t take any action until it owns the land.

Once developed, the park would add to the limited recreation space in Santa Ana Heights. The Birch Street parcel is in the eastern part of the neighborhood, which was annexed to Newport Beach in 2003.

The issue was continued after receiving a split vote, with Supervisors Chris Norby and Lou Correa voting against the $1 sale and Supervisor Bill Campbell abstaining.

“This is county property,” Norby said. “It’s zoned for business, and I don’t think $1 is enough … Usually we try to get fair market value for land owned by the county.”

The county has already chipped in its share as part of the annexation agreement for East Santa Ana Heights, he said, and a passive park may not be something area residents need.

Supervisor Jim Silva, who voted for the park site transfer along with Supervisor Tom Wilson, said the issue will come back to the board in late August or early September.

“I believe the residents of Santa Ana Heights deserve a community park,” Silva said. “It should have been done many, many years ago.”

— By Alicia Robinson