Agran Advances ARDA Site Cleanup, but Veterans Reduced to 5 Acres

On February 8, Councilmember Agran asked his colleagues to ensure residents would see the ARDA eyesore at the northern edge of the Great Park turned into a beautiful City asset immediately.

Larry's proposal to commence site cleanup before July 1 received unanimous approval during the Irvine City Council meeting, and as a result, staff has been directed to prepare a demolition and site cleanup plan for the entire 125-acre ARDA site (the Amended and Restated Development Agreement site). As Larry says,

“We own that site, and no improvements have been made. It falls on us as a city to clear the site and move forward with whatever plans we may have." 

But although demolition and cleanup of the ARDA site was approved by the City Council, the discussion for directing staff to come back with a planning and design process for a Veterans Memorial Park was not approved.

Councilmember Kim made a motion, seconded by Mayor Khan, to designate just 5 acres for a veterans memorial out of a 125-acre design for a botanical garden. Their motion, along with Councilmember Agran’s proposal to start demolition and cleanup, passed. The will of the voters, however, explicitly zoned ARDA for a “Veterans Memorial Park.” 

Nothing should stand in the way of a Veterans Memorial Park. Citizens gathered over 19,000 signatures to zone the ARDA site for a Veterans Memorial Park— this is now a zoning law adopted by the previous City Council.

-Larry Agran

Larry urged the Council “not to mess it up.”

Councilmember Larry Agran was disappointed the Irvine City Council did not work together to designate the ARDA site for a Veterans Memorial Park.

A Veterans Memorial Park will benefit the communities immediately surrounding the site and maintain the base’s history. You can view the Veterans Memorial Park presentation made by Councilmember Agran here:

To read Councilmember Agran’s plan to honor our service members, review the motion he proposed to the City Council: