One Step Closer for a Veterans Cemetery in Irvine
A few years ago, I received a call from a reporter about the proposed Veterans cemetery in Irvine.
The reporter asked me what my opinion was on the cemetery, and what the city Planning Commission's thoughts were. I told her that I would look forward to the day when the Commission would have the opportunity to review plans, feasibility studies, and to further vet the idea.
That day is finally approaching. On Thursday, September 7, the sole business item on the Commission's agenda will be to re-zone a portion of land at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, paving the way and facilitating the development of a Southern California Veterans Memorial Park.
Our Veterans deserve a final resting place in our community, and I've been clear about my support for that. But, our Veterans and our residents also deserve the siting, placement, and construction of this site to be done the right way.
This proposal, fully reviewed by our professional staff at City Hall, will come before the Planning Commission on Thursday. Like every land use decision in the city, my colleagues and I will hear from our staff, proponents and opponents of the proposal, question, discuss, and come to a decision in an open, fair, and transparent manner. After a thorough examination of the issues, we will render our decision and offer a recommendation to Mayor Wagner and the City Council.
Click here to review the full staff report on this issue coming before us next week.
Many people, including Governor Brown, have weighed in on this important decision. I look forward to reviewing the land use documents this weekend, and to the discussion next week.
The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Irvine City Hall, and is open to the public. Click here for more details.
During California Governor Jerry Brown's visit to Irvine earlier this year, he commented, “Obviously, I like (the) strawberry patch — ‘Strawberry Fields.’ Remember that song?”
