Foes of Orange Development Gather Signatures

Several residents who live near the site of a proposed residential and hotel development in east Orange said they collected about 500 signatures Saturday in their effort to put the issue on the city’s June ballot.

Opponents of the Irvine Co.’s 12,300-home project at Chapman Avenue and Newport Boulevard manned petition tables in front of two supermarkets in the area and canvassed neighborhoods in search of signatures.

They need to collect 5,500 signatures by Jan. 18 to let the voters decide whether to accept or reject the development.

“A lot of people are responding to what we’re doing,” said Orange resident Terri Sargeant, who was accepting petition signatures at a Vons supermarket on Chapman Avenue.

After 3 1/2 years of negotiations, the Orange City Council voted unanimously Dec. 19 to amend the city’s General Plan and approve the development.

On Friday, when several homeowners held a news conference to express their support for the development, a shouting match erupted between them and opponents. Before it ended, supporters accused opponents of using “outside anti-growth leaders” to help block the development.

Supporters said they favor the project because it includes jogging and horse trails and two parks.

About half a dozen project opponents circulated petitions Saturday. They claim the 7,100-acre development will cause severe traffic problems, worsen air quality and rob residents of a prime piece of open space.

Opponents will step up their effort in the final weeks of the petition drive and may employ mass mailings, said Sherry Meddick, a referendum supporter.