Ruling Backs Development Deal
Orange Park Acres Assn. and Serrano Water District representatives both claimed victory Wednesday afternoon over a Superior Court ruling stating that the water district did not violate a state law by failing to conduct an environmental impact review before entering into an agreement with developer SunCal Cos.
Superior Court Judge John C. Woolley ruled in favor of the water district, essentially clearing SunCal and the water district to proceed as they have.
The attorney representing the association said, however, that the lawsuit prompted SunCal to revise its agreement with the water district. The language of the previous agreement gave SunCal the power to approve any action regarding the proposed sale of the land, Hooper said.
“What they did was remove the provisions we objected to,” Hooper said. “Our lawsuit achieved what it was supposed to.”
Serrano Water District attorney Rob Bower said much of the anxiety surrounding Barham Ranch is premature, however. The agreement between SunCal and the water district does not necessarily mean that the land will be sold, he said.
The association has been fighting to stop the proposed sale of the 526-acre Barham Ranch to SunCal.
The land is jointly owned by the water district and the Orange Unified School District, which is also involved in a lawsuit.
The water district is suing the school district to force it to sell the site for housing developments. The lawsuit will be heard Jan. 10.
“Our [California Environmental Quality Act] action has caused [the water district] to rescind the major part of the agreement,” said Marilyn Ganahl, co-chair of Save Barham Ranch. “It puts us on a more level playing field.”
Richard Walters, who was one of the petitioners of the lawsuit against the water district, said the withdrawal of the provisions allows the district to listen to the many supporters who want to save Barham Ranch from development.
“The water district has a chance to back out now and do what is proper,” he said.
Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.
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