District legal counsel outlined options for the 19.93-acre Hope School site at the Nov. 18 board meeting, emphasizing new constraints and opportunities created by recent changes to California’s Surplus Land Act and the passage of AB 130.

Attorney Terry Tao (with associate Barry Natovic) told trustees the district can still use traditional surplus-property processes — surplus land advisory committees, CEQA review and Naylor Act procedures — but recent statutory amendments (notably AB 130) add requirements that can affect sales, leases and affordable-housing covenants. "AB 130... requires that at least 15% of that property receive a restrictive covenant that it will be used for low income housing," the attorney said.

As an alternative to outright sale, counsel presented joint-occupancy under Education Code §17515 (long-term leasehold, commonly used to leverage district land for mixed development) as a path to generate revenue while retaining district interests. Counsel described examples: a Santa Monica–Malibu project that included a long-term land lease and later returned more district control, and an LA Unified parcel developed with mixed uses.

Trustees discussed workforce housing as an alternative to low-income housing, with counsel noting workforce housing can include district staff and often pairs a smaller low-income set-aside (cited examples around 20% low-income as part of a workforce project). Questions from trustees covered permitting and zoning with the city of Buena Park, parking/density incentives, term lengths (99 years commonly requested for financing) and fiscal viability.

Next steps: Counsel recommended issuing RFPs for joint-occupancy proposals and evaluating development partners based on district goals (career-technical education, medical magnet, early-childhood center, workforce housing). The board asked staff to continue analysis of fiscal spreadsheets, permitting pathways and community impacts before any formal action.

Speakers quoted are identified in the meeting transcript and spoke during the Hope School presentation and Q&A.