Item 13 - Willowick Golf Course Update

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This section is problematic because the Fair Market Value of the property has not been established, which is a process of the good faith negotiation process. This section seems to validate the City of Garden Grove’s appraisal of the Willowick Property as the actual valuation of the land and is misleading. The staff report fails to mention that the $90 million valuation of the property is based on Willowick being converted to a “Master Planned Community” that will be primarily market-rate housing with commercial and retail development, some affordable housing, and a negligible amount of open space. The appraisal assumes that the property will be rezoned. Current Santa Ana Open Space Deficit Given that Willowick property is currently zoned as open space the Coalition believes it is important that the Council Members receive information on the need for this land use in the City. Throughout the City’s Environmental Justice (EJ) outreach for the General Plan, residents have consistently said they urgently need more open space.The City’s summary of the EJ Survey Results states that “when asked to rank from a list of five actions that will improve their quality of life and create a healthy environment, 468 responses were received. The following lists the actions that were ranked by all respondents from first choice to last choice. First choice: Additional public parks, open space and community centers within walking distance from their home, school, or business.”Residents who attended the City’s 10 EJ Community Forums also consistently1 named their need for Open Space as one of their top needs. The residents’ requests for more open space are not surprising given that the City of Santa Ana dedicates only 4% of their land to open space.The Santa Ana Municipal Code states that the2 City's parkland standard is 2 acres per 1,000 residents.This standard is lower than the one suggested by the California Quimby Act which recommends a park standard of 3 acres per 1,000 residents. Table 5.15-13 of the Santa Ana General Plan Update Recirculated Draft Program Environmental Impact Report states that based on the City’s parkland standard, the City’s current park deficit is 118.64 acres. For comparison, Willowick is approximately 102 acres. This deficit will only deepen with the increase in development anticipated by the General Plan Update. We hope that you found helpful the clarifications and additional information the Coalition has provided in this letter. We invite the Council to reach out to the Coalition to further discuss the community’s vision for Willowick. Please contact Cynthia Guerra at (714) 805-7317 and at cguerra@riseupwillowick.org. Thank you, The Rise Up Willowick Coalition 2 ParkScore- City of Santa Ana, Trust for Public Land,2020. 1 City of Santa Ana’s Environmental Justice Outreach Executive Summary, p. 6, July 21, 2021. https://www.santa-ana.org/sites/default/files/pb/general-plan/documents/Formatted%20-%20EJ%20Community%20Outr each%20Report%207.20.21%20final.pdf 2 of 2