Frequently Asked Questions
(UPDATED: March 2007)
SCHOOLS
- What schools are proposed in the Master Plan for the Tustin Legacy project?
The Master Plan currently shows two 10-acre elementary schools and one 40-acre high school site. However, the City does not control decisions regarding the financing and construction of schools. Those decisions are within the authority of the Tustin Unified School District. You may contact the District at (714) 730-7339.
In addition to local schools, the Tustin Legacy Plan provides sites for the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) and the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD). SOCCCD is currently completing Phase 1 of their project associated with the proposed Advanced Technology Education Park. RSCCD is currently completing a law enforcement training facility that will be opened in the summer of 2007.
- What existing schools will my children attend until construction of new schools at Tustin Legacy and when are the proposed new schools scheduled to open?
Please contact the Tustin Unified School District at (714) 730-7339 for more specific information related to schools your children will attend until construction of new schools at Tustin Legacy. Also, the District can respond to any of your questions regarding the schedule for construction and opening of any new schools.
- What is the expected enrollment of the schools?
Please contact the Tustin Unified School District at (714) 730-7339 for more specific information related to enrollment numbers.
PARKS
- What parks are proposed and when will they be completed?
Tustin Legacy’s plan has over 200 acres of private and public parkland, ranging from neighborhood parks incorporated into each of the Tustin Legacy neighborhoods to larger community parks which will contain more active recreational opportunities. The major central organizing design feature of the Tustin Legacy Project will be the 15.7 acre mile long lineal park system stretching from the intersection of Barranca Parkway and Red Hill Avenue to Edinger Avenue and Jamboree Road.
While construction of neighborhood parks is being completed in conjunction with the development of each residential neighborhood, the lineal park system and community parks proposed at Tustin Legacy will be constructed over several years in phases beginning in 2008, with final phasing of some facilities completed in 2011-2012.
- What amenities will be offered in the parks?
The type of amenities within parks will depend on the type of park with more active facilities such as sports fields, tennis courts and play areas located within proposed community parks. Many neighborhood parks will have open space facilities available to the general public with privately fenced areas containing swimming and community center facilities in some cases maintained by a home owner associations.
- Where is the “Great Park” located?
Often confused with Tustin Legacy and Legacy Park, the “Great Park” is an unrelated development concept at the former MCAS El Toro within the City of Irvine, CA.
BLIMP HANGARS
- What is the current ownership and use of each of the large blimp hangars?
The Southern Hangar, located near Warner Avenue and Tustin Ranch Road, is currently unused due to environmental concerns and will not be used until a final decision of the disposition of the hangar. The hangar is still owned by the Department of the Navy and will not be conveyed to the City of Tustin until a determination that environmental remediation on the site is in place and adequately operated by environmental regulators.
The Northern Hangar, located near Valencia Avenue and Armstrong Road, is currently owned by the Department of the Navy who leases the facility on a case-by-case basis.
- What are the plans for the larger blimp hangars
The South Hangar will be ultimately conveyed to Tustin Legacy Community Partners, LLC, the master developer of 820 acres at Tustin Legacy. When they choose to redevelop the hangar site, they will be required to comply with the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan which identifies that a variety of uses on the site might be possible, including commercial business uses.
The Northern Hangar, located near Valencia Avenue and Armstrong Road, is currently proposed to be ultimately conveyed by the Department of the Navy to the County of Orange. The current Tustin Legacy Reuse Plan and Specific Plan show the 11 acre hangar facility located on an 84.5-acre parcel identified as a County of Orange Regional Park. On December 19, 2006, the Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized County staff to negotiate and enter in an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Industrial Reality Group, Inc. (IRG) as a potential concession operator and developer of the parcel for a retail sports project in conjunction with the original proposed park uses.
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. When will construction of Tustin Ranch Road be completed?
The construction of Tustin Ranch Road from Barranca Parkway to Warner Avenue is currently under construction. Construction of the roadway segment north of Warner Avenue to Walnut Avenue is extremely complex and involves an interchange and bridge crossing over Edinger Avenue and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority right-of-way area. The grading for the bridges is currently underway and requires at least 9-12 months of settlement to stabilize before construction can actually begin on the roadway and bridge over crossing. Construction is currently estimated to begin sometime in 2008 and be completed sometime in 2009.
2. What is the schedule for completion of other major roadways at Tustin Legacy?
Arterial roadway construction at Tustin Legacy is expected to be completed in phases corresponding to development activity.
Specifically, sections of primary arterial roads Valencia Avenue from Red Hill Avenue to Kensington Road, Armstrong Road from Valencia to Warner Avenue, and Kensington Road from Edinger Avenue to Valencia are nearing completion and also expected to be open to the public by Spring 2007. Sections of major and primary arterial roads including Tustin Ranch Road from Barranca Parkway to Warner Avenue, Warner Avenue from Jamboree Road to Tustin Ranch Road, and Park Avenue from Warner to Tustin Ranch Road are expected to be open to the public by early summer 2007 in conjunction with the grand opening of The District at Tustin Legacy. Barranca Parkway widening from Jamboree Road to Tustin Ranch Road is also expected by early summer of 2007.
3. When will the proposed Fire Station at Kensington Drive and Edinger be completed?
The proposed Tustin Legacy fire station is a relocation of Fire Station 37 which is located north of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority right-of-way at Red Hill Avenue and Service Road. The station cannot be relocated until completion of the Tustin Ranch Road extension north across the railroad right-of-way to Walnut Avenue to the north. It is not expected that the station would be completed any earlier than sometime in 2010, depending on funding availability.
THE DISTRICT AT TUSTIN LEGACY
1. When will The District at Tustin Legacy be open?
The first phase of the 1 million square foot retail development is expected to open in Summer 2007 with Phase 2 opening in late Fall 2007. More information regarding the development, including a listing of specific tenants, may be found via separate links at www.tustinlegacy.com.
2. Who are Public Relations and Leasing contacts for Vestar?
Public Relations
Nicklas Roe
Vestar Development Co.
Phone: (602) 866-0900
General Leasing Information
Jeff Axtell
Vestar Development Co.
Phone (562) 938-1722
Other Miscellaneous Questions
1. Are there any environmental problems at Tustin Legacy?
The site of Tustin Legacy is the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin which was either a Navy and/or Marine Corps training facility throughout its 57-year history. Like many communities of its age, the former Marine Corps Air Station had a gas station and other fuel storage areas, had a landfill site, and utilized various cleaning solvents and chemicals in cleaning and repairing military aircraft and supporting the military mission. The environmental impacts caused by each of these types of activities were analyzed by the Department of the Navy in consultation with federal and state environmental regulators and areas of concern are currently being remediated. The Department of the Navy is legally responsible for the assessment, identification and remediation of any environmental problems associated with previous military operations at Tustin Legacy. They are working with the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City of Tustin to ensure that the environmental process and remediation activities at Tustin Legacy meet all state and federal environmental standards.
Additionally, in the case of school sites, the State requires DTSC to approve school sites. No school site can be acquired by the Tustin Unified School District unit it has also been certified as suitable for a school site by the State.
2. How can I get on the list for affordable housing at Tustin Legacy?
The City has been requiring that new privately developed owner and rental residential projects having 4 or more units constructed or substantially rehabilitated within project areas include a minimum of 15% of units affordable to very low, low and moderate income households. The developer will maintain their own interest list and market their affordable housing units. It is very important for the caller to register at the developer’s website.
The City of Tustin has made a commitment to ensure adequate provision of affordable housing at Tustin Legacy. Each major developer will be responsible for providing a significant amount of affordable housing to assist very low income, low income and moderate income households. Within the John Laing Homes developments, over 118 owner-occupied affordable homes were made available and resales of these affordable units will be available in the future. Within the Lennar/William Lyon Homes Projects, 308 affordable units will be available with 266 owner-occupied units in Columbus Square and 42 units in Columbus Grove. A large number of affordable units will also be available in Columbus Square to senior citizens. Tustin Legacy Community Partners, will also provide up to 453 units in their future Legacy Park development of which 200 units will be for affordable owner-occupied units and 253 units will be affordable rental units.
At this time, the City does not keep an interest list for affordable housing. The caller will need to watch the local papers for advertisements on upcoming new affordable housing being offered by individual builders at Tustin Legacy. Interested parties can also check the Tustin Legacy website (www.tustinlegacy.com), and periodically call the Redevelopment Agency for any new information (714) 573-3117.
3. May I have a business at my home at Tustin Legacy?
Many of the housing products at Tustin Legacy feature live/work units. To have your business located in one of these units, or another home, please contact the Business License division at (714) 573-3144.
4. Is land available for lease or sale at Tustin Legacy? I am interested in buying land in the Tustin Legacy Project, who do I talk to?
The only land currently being marketed at Tustin Legacy is within the control of the City’s Master Developer, Tustin Legacy Community Partners, LLC. For information about availability and cost the contact person for non-residential land sales is Jack Goddard at (949) 389-7000. The contact for residential land sales is Simon Whitmey, General Manager at (714) 453-0113.
5. What is the zoning for my property and what are the development standards for my property, such as building setbacks, parking requirements, height limit, etc.?
Zoning development standards are available at the City Hall which is located at 300 Centennial Way, or on the City’s website: www.tustinca.org through the "Municipal Code" link. For other questions about development standards at Tustin Legacy, please call the Planning Division at (714) 537-3140.
6. What other developments are proposed at Tustin Legacy?
The Tustin Legacy Plan is proposed as a premier master planned mixed use development that will benefit all of Orange County. The 1600+ acre development will include over 4,600 homes, over 10 million square feet of non-residential space including major office, retail, entertainment, business park, educational and community support facilities.
Detailed information related to the Tustin Legacy as well as the 820 acres to be developed by the Master Developer, Tustin Legacy Community Partners, LLC. (TLCP) can be found in detail at www.tustinlegacy.com.
The website also contains information regarding the public benefit parcels being developed by the South Orange County Community College District, the Orange County Rescue Mission, the Rancho Santiago Community College District, and the County of Orange Social Services Agency.
7. When will development be completed at Tustin Legacy?
The build-out of all development at the Tustin Legacy project will take approximately 15-20 years.
For more information about the schedule of development, call the Tustin Redevelopment Agency at (714) 573-3117.
8. Will homeless families live at Tustin Legacy?
Yes. The City of Tustin’s commitment to provision of affordable housing includes accommodating the needs of homeless providers.
The Orange County Rescue Mission is developing the 192 unit Village of Hope project in the vicinity of Red Hill Avenue and Valencia. A renovation of former military barracks, the project is intended to be completed in early 2007 and will be a model program intended to provide a transitional facility to assist struggling families in developing the skills and training necessary to move them into productive members of society.
There are three other homeless providers that will also operate in the Tustin Legacy Project. These providers include the Salvation Army (six units), Human Options (six units) and The Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter (six units) and within the Irvine portion of the Tustin Legacy project, Irvine Temporary Housing (14 units). As a result of negotiations with the City of Tustin, developers at Tustin Legacy have constructed units for each of the above providers and have transferred or will be transferring to each provider, ownership interests in individual homes at no cost to the providers. Like other homeowners, the homeless providers will be responsible for complying with all home owner association requirements. They will also work to place responsible client tenants into these units and will supervise their progress.
If you have any questions about this program, you may contact the Tustin Redevelopment Agency at (714) 573-3117 for units within the City of Tustin and the City of Irvine for units in Irvine.
