Irvine City Council Approves Purchase and Closure of All American Asphalt Plant to Create Gateway Preserve

The Irvine City Council has approved plans to purchase and decommission the All American Asphalt plant, located on Jeffrey Road in North Irvine, and create the Gateway Preserve. The agreement also includes the transfer of approximately 475 acres of land from the Irvine Company to the City, with a portion of the land to be master planned for residential development to cover the costs associated with acquiring the asphalt plant.

The Gateway Preserve will be a nearly 700-acre open space preserve that will offer accessible outdoor space and residential housing in North Irvine. The overall plan involves the acquisition and closure of the All American Asphalt plant, the extension of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, two new thematic parks, additional trails for hiking and biking, and a new residential village that is consistent with the master plan for North Irvine.

During a special City Council meeting on April 11, 2023, the Irvine City Council unanimously approved the plan to acquire and close the All American Asphalt plant, while also establishing the Gateway Preserve. Once established, the Gateway Preserve will create a new hub for outdoor activities such as hiking and biking, while also serving as an entry point to the vast 20,000-acre Northern Open Space Preserve. It will connect to Limestone Canyon, Black Star Canyon, and extend to the Cleveland National Forest. The location will serve a broad range of outdoor experiences for residents and visitors alike.

The Gateway Preserve is made possible through the acquisition and closure of the All American Asphalt Plant. The 11-acre site will be incorporated into the Preserve and be replaced with a park, interpretive area, and staging ground for hikes in the open space. The closure of the asphalt plant provides a final solution to the long-standing concerns of North Irvine residents and neighbors.

Funds to acquire the asphalt plant will come from the sale of developable land that the Irvine Company is transferring to the City. As part of the overall transaction, the Irvine Company is dedicating 91 acres of land to the City, called the Gateway Land. A portion of the Gateway Land will be maintained to allow for the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, which will span Portola Parkway by way of a new pedestrian bridge that will continue along Jeffrey Road to its new terminus at the entrance of the Gateway Preserve.

In addition to the JOST, the City will explore the use of the Gateway Land at the northeast corner of Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway for development. After the appropriate environmental study, this land will be considered for entitlement as the City’s newest residential village. The Gateway Land is envisioned to include a collection of homes that complement the master plan for the North Irvine area, and brings a variety of new housing options to the community.