ORANGE : Plans to Annex 90 Acres Still in Limbo

The city continues to wrangle with residents of the Fairhaven Islands area over whether about 90 acres of county land should become part of Orange.

The City Council this week was ready to schedule a mailed ballot election for voters in the Fairhaven area to decide whether to become part of the city. But homeowners Tuesday once again balked at annexation and complained that the city was railroading them.

The Fairhaven Islands include three separate areas of county land surrounded by Orange to the east, west, and north. Fairhaven Avenue provides a southern border for most of the land.

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved annexation of the three areas to the city of Orange in September. Residents of the area then circulated a petition hoping to kill the plan but were unable to gather enough valid signatures to stop the annexation. According to state law, an election must now be held. A mailed ballot election would cost between $4,000 and $5,000, City Clerk Marilyn J. Jensen said.

Jensen told the council that residents did not follow proper procedures for filing the petition and that some homeowners seemed confused about the petition’s purpose. One resident complained that the city may have violated state law because it did not allow homeowners enough time to gather signatures, Jensen said.

Some residents this week demanded that the city withdraw its annexation plans or reopen the matter for more public input. “As far as I can see, they are trying to railroad us into” annexation, William Hatch, a resident, said.

Councilman Mike Spurgeon recommended that the city “cut (its) losses” and rescind its decision.

But City Atty. Robert O. Franks said LAFCO may not allow the city to simply withdraw the annexation plans and may require a new public hearing.

The council is to reconsider the matter at 3 p.m. Nov. 26.