Irvine Co. Ordered to Draft Erosion Repair Plan

Orange County planning and development officials on Thursday ordered the Irvine Co. to submit an erosion control plan for two acres of property that was damaged as a result of improper bulldozing at the company’s Santiago Hills Phase II project in East Orange.

The order follows an agreement between the developer and federal authorities to repair another parcel that also was graded and damaged without a permit in July.

A report on the damage to both sites by environmental consultant Glen Lukos Associates determined that none of the damage affected mature oak or sycamore trees, significant wildlife resources or wetlands.

The county agreed with that assessment, according to a letter from Thomas B. Matthews, the county’s planning and development services director.

The grading was done by a contractor for the Irvine Co., GeoSoils Inc., while conducting soil tests in the 518-acre development at the base of the Santa Ana Mountains. The grading was done to create access roads for equipment, according to the Irvine Co.

“It was land that shouldn’t have been disturbed, but it was,” said Rich Elbaum, a spokesman for the Irvine Co.

GeoSoils could not be reached for comment. Elbaum said the repair work would consist of restoring contours that were flattened by the grading, removal of displaced landfill, and restoration of damaged vegetation.