City Planners Vote to Back Irvine Co. Project in Orange

After nearly four hours of impassioned debate, the Orange Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve a 1,746-dwelling Irvine Co. project on 494 acres in East Orange. The vote, which came just before midnight Monday, was 4 to 0 in favor of the project, with commission Chairman Randy Bosch abstaining because he has contractual ties with the Irvine Co. on another project. Despite their approval, most members of the Planning Commission expressed remorse.

“All of us agree that we would rather have it be open space,” said Commissioner Teresa Smith, a fifth-generation resident of the city. But “we have chosen to live in a community that is one of the richest and fastest-growing in the world. With our prosperity, we also have development.”

The Santiago Hills II project would be the start of a plan to bring more than 12,000 homes to the base of the Santa Ana Mountains. Situated near an equestrian community and the county’s oldest grove of live-oak trees, the project was first included in a General Plan adopted by the city in 1989.

Irvine Co. Senior Vice President Dan Young, who answered questions about Santiago Hills II, said: “The community got involved and made this plan something they wanted, not just what we wanted. . . . I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Former critics, such as members of the East Orange Neighborhood Committee, testified heartily in support of the Santiago Hills II project because of a number of modifications, including downsizing and a $17.8-million school construction loan. There were still a number of opponents, whose concerns ranged from noise effects on neighboring Cowan Heights once a massive ridge is cut down to vague wording in the 68 mitigation measures intended to make up for environmental harm.

Opponent Juan Pablo pleaded with the commission to deny approval, saying: “The project is too big, and there are still too many questions. The only thing you can do is say no. . . . They’re already poisoning the coast with their development.”

If the City Council approves the project, the developer will also be required to obtain approvals for housing tract maps and grading. Construction could begin July 15, 2001.

The commissioners attached three conditions to their vote: They directed city staff to discuss affordable housing with the developer, required public hearings for urban-runoff management plans and asked that upcoming surveys for two endangered birds believed to exist on the site include a listing of all bird species found there.