ORANGE : Council Approves 17-Acre Annexation

City Council members this week unanimously approved the annexation of 17 acres in east Orange.

The hilly, residential area, consisting of 65 single-family homes, is southeast of Santiago Canyon Road and Rancho Santiago Boulevard, near Orange Park Acres. About 150 residents live in the area.

Shirley Grindle, former county planning commissioner and a member of the community that will be annexed, helped coordinate the process. She said residents favored annexation to the city of Orange largely because of potential rate hikes for county services. “There are no longer any reasons not to annex to the city of Orange,” Grindle said.

Steep hills and substandard private streets required the city to make special arrangements with the community before annexation was approved. For example, residents of the annexed area, unlike those in other areas of the city, will maintain their own roads and trash collection, and trash recycling will be made available only on request.

Grindle said she hopes the neighboring unincorporated community of Orange Park Acres will be encouraged to join the city.

“I’m trying to show the older neighbors and older leaders of Orange Park Acres that there is nothing to lose by annexing to the city,” Grindle said. “As the city develops to the east, (residents of the area) are going to need more say out there,” she added. “I hope that by my neighborhood going in . . . we’ll encourage Orange Park Acres to annex.”