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 Dear
Neighbor,
As you may have heard, a developer
is trying to convert OPA’s valuable recreational open space into houses. The
51-acre Ridgeline property has long been home to a golf
course, tennis courts and a swimming pool, and is zoned
for those purposes. The land was sold last year
and the new owner intends to build 38 estate homes on
it. This is not a “done deal”.
The proposed development will need a zone change, general
plan amendment, Orange Park Acres Specific Plan amendment,
and conditional use permit changes in order to commence.
The developer claims that his
project would be the “highest
and best use of the property.” He also claims
to have the “best interest of families and kids
in mind.” Recently however, he shut down the golf
course and the tennis club is slated to be closed this
year.
The property owner can, of course,
close those facilities at his discretion. However,
he does not have the required zoning to build homes.
Only the Orange City Council can grant a zone change.
To purchase recreational open
space and hope to change the zoning after the fact
is a risky endeavor. Furthermore,
the community has no obligation to compensate a developer
for land speculation.
The Orange Park Association Board of Directors has repeatedly
voiced its opposition to the project and resulting changes
to the OPA Specific Plan.
The Board appointed a nine-member
Real Estate Committee made up of OPA residents to study
land use issues being proposed within the OPA Specific
Plan area. The
Committee has so far voiced the following concerns:
- This committee has advised the Board that this project
is not consistent with the OPA Specific Plan and does
not benefit the community in terms of aesthetics or
recreational value.
- The loss of recreational value to the community is
unacceptable.
- The City of Orange cannot afford to lose any recreational
open space without equitable mitigation or replacement.
- With Ridgeline and the 117-acre Sully Miller sand
and gravel site purchased by the same interests, citizens
must demand an overall general plan update for the
OPA area. We cannot afford to piecemeal our remaining
open space.
- The
developer’s offer of several acres for
a horse arena does not mitigate the community’s
51-acre loss of recreational opportunity.
- We
are urging this developer to work with us to develop
an alternate plan that would both protect his interests
and benefit the community.
The Board reviewed the Ridgeline
Project in an open public forum in early January 2008..
They listened to public input and decided to postpone
their vote until the EIR (Environmental Impact Report)
is circulated. The Board forwarded its report of the
meeting to the City of Orange for the public record.
Please email your comments to: info@orangeparkacres.org and
to receive more information, please leave your name and
email address with your comments and we will get back
to you as soon as possible.
We are asking you to join the
Board in protecting the Orange Park Acres Specific
Plan. Together we can
work to preserve our equestrian heritage for perpetuity – before
it’s too late.
Thank you in advance for your active participation,
The OPA Real Estate Committee
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