Will Irvine City Council Change the Zoning for Racquet Club of Irvine for a Multi-Story Development?

  • April 15, 2021, 7:30 am America/Los_Angeles
Speaking with various people who play at the Racquet Club of Irvine as well as nearby residents in the Rancho San Joaquin and other nearby villages, it appears a developer will be submitting an application to the City of Irvine on behalf of the owner of the Racquet Club of Irvine (RCI) to change the zoning for part of the RCI property to build a 5-story senior living facility with subterranean parking.
 
The RCI property, located at Culver & Ethan Coplen Way, is part of Planning Area 19 which is zoned for Commercial Recreation.  Building a 5-story building would require the City Council to vote in favor of changing the city’s General Plan and Zoning to allow such a development.  Also, it appears to be wildly out of character to build a 5-story commercial building in that area, which will overshadow the surrounding 1- and 2-story homes and apartments, never mind the safety concerns of adding another egress to Culver Drive, which is a main thoroughfare for residents and 405 commuters.
 
Irvine Watchdog did not receive the architectural renderings for this proposed 5-story development. However, we have spoken with various RCI members and nearby residents who have seen the renderings.  Here are some examples of what a 5-story building looks like:
 
 
On August 13, 2019, the Irvine City Council unanimously passed Resolution 19-80 whereby the Councilmembers affirmed the “existing General Plan and Zoning Ordinance land use designations for the Racquet Club of Irvine property located at 5 Ethel Coplen Way in Planning Area 19 (Rancho San Joaquin).”  The City Council passed this resolution in response to the RCI owner’s previous attempt in 2019 to rezone the property for a proposed KB Homes development.
 
The City Councilmembers at that time were: Mayor Christina Shea and Councilmembers Mike Carroll, Farrah Khan, Anthony Kuo, and Melissa Fox.  See also a post on Councilmember Mike Carroll’s Facebook page. 
 
Should the RCI owner and the developer (once again) submit a rezoning application to develop a 5-story senior living facility on part of the property, the City Council would have to void Resolution 19-80, which reaffirmed the current zoning for the RCI property.
 
Irvine residents who wish to weigh in on this proposed 5-story development on the RCI property may email the Irvine City Council at [email protected]cityofirvine.org.