Garden Grove Has Earned the Right to Move Forward
IRVINE, CA (July 31, 2026) — How many times should a city have to approve the same project before it’s finally allowed to move forward?
That is the question facing Garden Grove as the proposed Nickelodeon Hotel confronts yet another challenge after years of planning, environmental review, public hearings and City Council action. Even after a court required additional environmental analysis, the city completed that work, revisited the project and approved it again.
Now, a referendum effort, led by UNITE HERE Local 11, threatens to undo all that work and potentially land a deathblow to a project that promises significant economic benefits for the city and all of Orange County. Residents in Garden Grove should reject signing on to this ploy.
The Nickelodeon Hotel, represents far more than a new hotel. It is a significant investment in the city’s future and in one of the region’s most important industries. It is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs, support hundreds of permanent hospitality positions, generate $323.2 million for the city over a 30-year span and generate millions of dollars in economic activity. It will attract visitors who will spend money in local restaurants, shops and neighboring attractions while further strengthening Orange County’s position as one of the nation’s premier family tourism destinations.
This project is exactly what the city has planned for. The property has been designated for hotel development for more than a decade and is part of the Garden Grove’s long-term strategy to strengthen its tourism economy. It has been anything but rushed through the approval process.
Quite the opposite. In fact, the Nickelodeon Hotel has been in the works since 2016.
It has been subjected to years of public scrutiny. After the project was challenged in court, a judge required additional environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Rather than abandon the project, Garden Grove prepared the required Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, held additional public hearings, returned to the Planning Commission and City Council and unanimously approved the project once again.
Now, UNITE HERE Local 11’s referendum scheme threatens to overturn the City Council’s unanimous decision or force taxpayers to finance a costly special election, to the tune of more than $1 million of taxpayer dollars, which would otherwise be used for critical city services.
This is no longer a question of whether the project should receive environmental review. It already has. It is no longer a question of whether the city has considered public input. It has in multiple forums. Instead, the referendum asks whether Garden Grove should walk away from years of planning and kill the jobs, investment and economic opportunity this project represents.
It also raises a broader question that extends well beyond one hotel. At what point should a project that has followed the rules finally be allowed to proceed?
Businesses considering investments in California understand that development requires environmental review, public hearings and regulatory oversight. But they also need confidence that if they comply with the law, respond to court rulings and satisfy the applicable requirements, there will eventually be a clear and predictable outcome.
Predictability is a cornerstone of good governance. It allows cities to plan responsibly, developers to invest confidently and residents to trust that public processes have meaning. Without it, every major project becomes more uncertain, more expensive and more difficult to deliver – to the detriment of job creation and the region’s economic growth.
Garden Grove has reached a pivotal moment. The city has spent years reviewing this proposal. It has followed the process, responded to the courts and reaffirmed its support for a project that promises meaningful benefits for residents, workers and local businesses.
It is time to let Garden Grove move forward. Voters should reject this referendum.
About Orange County Business Council
For more than 30 years, Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has represented and promoted the region’s business community, working with government and academia to advance Orange County’s Economic Development. OCBC advances pro-business solutions by supporting a competitive Workforce and collaborating with developers, builders, labor and policymakers to expand and diversify Housing options across the region. In addition, we champion investment and policy frameworks that enable innovative, resilient Infrastructure. OCBC’s member-investors span a wide range of industries across the region, including biomedical, construction, education, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, real estate, technology, public agencies, tourism, transportation and utilities. For more information, visit OCBC.org.
Media Contact
Paul Simonds
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
psimonds@ocbc.org
