Willowick site declared “surplus land”

WILLOWICK Golf Course its owned by the City of Garden Grove but within Santa Ana city limits. (Tribune photo).

Declaration of the city-owned Willowick Golf Course as “surplus land” was approved by the Garden Grove City Council on a 7-0 vote Tuesday night.

The 101.5-acre site is within the city limits of Santa Ana but is owned by Garden Grove. Plans to reuse the land were proceeding with both cities conferring but a lawsuit and an amendment to the state’s Surplus Land Act have halted the process.

Now, the city will contact public agencies and affordable housing developers for interest in purchasing or leasing the land for parkland, schools or housing. If there’s interest, the city negotiate with those parties. If not agreement is reached, the process is developing the land for other purposes could proceed.

Several speakers addressed the council and questioned whether the city’s plans and potential negotiations  would be conducted “in good faith,” as the Surplus Land Act requires and asked the city to “reach out” to the community adjacent to the Willowick site.

The next city council meeting is set for Tuesday, March 10.