RESEARCH CENTER AND GOLF COURSE REDEVELOPMENT

Unocal's primary research division was housed at the Fred Hartley Research Center in Brea, CA.  The 119 acre property was comprised of the 75 acre research labs (450,000 sf), 25 acres of citrus groves, and a 19 acre garden nursery with abandoned oil wells and a drilling sump.  In 2000, we initiated a redevelopment effort.  The formerly abandoned oil wells were re-abandoned to meet current standards and the drilling sump was remediated.  In 2005 all of the buildings were demolished and the site was prepared for development.  The goal of the project was to monetize the property for its highest and best use, with minimal impacts to traffic and city services, while also providing revenue opportunities for the City.  The company also owned a nearby popular executive golf course, Birch Hills Golf Course, that was restricted to use as a golf course by city zoning ordinance.

To achieve the development goals, we devised a mixed use redevelopment strategy that also took advantage of the golf course property.  To minimize traffic and service impacts, a significant portion of the research center property (45 acres) was devoted to age restricted housing, including assisted living.  Approximately 60 acres was dedicated to attached and detached for-sale housing and 15 acres was planned for commercial/retail uses.  For a development of this size, the City required a park dedication of 5 acres/1,000 residents (approx. 20 ac) and 10 % of all housing was required to be "affordable" (approx. 150 units).  In addition, for housing developments with over 500 residential units, the applicant must show that sufficient water is available to serve the project.  To meet these requirements, we proposed to redevelop the Birch Hills Golf Course by realigning some of the holes to 1) clear 4 acres for an "affordable" apartment complex to be built and operated by a local work-force housing developer and 2) open 6 additional acres for market rate townhome construction.  When complete, we agreed to deed the golf course to the City in lieu of park fees and as an on-going public revenue source.  Water for the project was established by transferring mutual water company ownership shares, that Unocal owned, to the City.  The shares represent sufficient water rights to service the development. The project was approved in 2010 as a win-win outcome for the City and Unocal.