Orange : Angry Residents Oppose Plan to Rezone Parcel

Residents who thought a gravel pit next to their homes was going to be turned into a county park are organizing against a city plan to annex and rezone the property for commercial and industrial use.

Jerry Klim, who lives near the pit, said hundreds of neighbors who have expressed concern about the proposed zoning change are expected to attend a meeting tonight in the 3100 block of Hearthside Street.

Originally the area along the Santa Ana River between Glassell Street and Lincoln Avenue was to be part of a greenbelt program begun more than 20 years ago. But the proposed county park was scuttled in 1979 because of the expense of restoring the gravel pits, according to county planners. Residents said they were unaware of the change in plans.

The city council initially proposed the zoning change at a meeting in late August. Residents sought a 60-day extension, accusing the city of failing to notify them. But officials said a notice was published in the newspaper and said residents within 300 feet of the site were notified.

Residents said because the distance between boundaries of the pits and the houses is often more than 300 feet, very few knew about the proposal.

The council is scheduled to vote Oct. 27 on the proposed zoning change.