Tustin Council Annexes 1 Area, Defers Action on 2 Others

After hearing from dozens of North Tustin residents at a raucous City Council meeting, Tustin city officials have voted to annex one area of that community but to hold more public hearings on two others.

The council voted unanimously Monday to annex the area known as 17th Street-Laurinda Way, where no residents had protested the idea. The area includes 18 homes, the Gerber Pre-School and one professional office building. It is bounded by 17th Street, Anglin Lane, Laurinda Way and Prospect Avenue.

But the council postponed votes on annexing two other areas of North Tustin where residents have signed petitions in protest. Residents have until Monday to file those petitions with the city.

The Tustin council also set public hearings on those annexations for Monday at City Hall.

The proposals have pitted residents who support annexation to Tustin against those who want the area to remain unincorporated and under the county’s jurisdiction.

“This, of course, is a very emotional issue for both sides,” Tustin Mayor Ronald Hoesterey said during Monday night’s session.

The largest of the two remaining areas under consideration is a 160-acre parcel known as Fairhaven. It includes 451 homes and is bounded by Fairhaven Avenue on the north, Prospect Avenue on the east, Santa Clara Avenue on the south and the city boundary on the west, which is 100 feet east of Marshall Lane.

“By going into the city of Tustin, we can keep the area the way it is now,” said Douglas Chapman, a North Tustin resident who circulated a petition in support of annexation. Chapman said he submitted about 100 signatures, or 8% of the 1,209 registered voters in the Fairhaven area, to Tustin more than a year ago to begin the annexation process.

State law requires that a city must begin annexation procedures if at least 5% of the registered voters in an area sign petitions requesting it.

Chapman’s petition drive has been met by stiff opposition from residents who want the area to remain as it is. Those residents, many of whom have lived there for decades, expressed concern Monday night that the area would change under Tustin’s jurisdiction.

“It’s a complete reversal of the democratic process when 5% of the people can make the other 95% scramble to protect their homes and way of life,” said Elva Woodland, who has spearheaded the drive to prevent annexation. “It’s completely wrong,” she said. “It’s minority rule.”

The other area proposed for annexation, known as Prospect Avenue, is bounded roughly by Santa Clara Avenue on the north, Laurinda Way on the west, Laurie Lane on the south and Prospect Avenue on the east. The 16.5-acre area includes 53 homes. A petition drive also has begun in that area to prevent annexation to Tustin.