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sully-miller | history

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Background

 
The 117-acre former sand and gravel operation has 20 acres of land zoned for residential development. The property owner’s proposed development does NOT conform with the City’s General Plan, the East Orange General Plan, the Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan, the City’s Master Plan of Trails or the OPA Specific Plan.

Background on Existing Rights
 
The 109-acre aggregate mining property known as Sully Miller site has been used for resource extraction for nearly 100 years.  Mining activities occurred on-site from 1919 to 1995 and consisted of surface mining of sand and aggregates.  The General Plan designated the site Resource with the zoning sand and gravel.
 
In the early 70s three plans were approved:  Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan (First printing - March, 1971), Orange Park Acres Specific Plan (1973) and the East Orange General Plan (1975).  These plans designated 96 acres on Sully Miller as Open Space once the extraction life was depleted. EOGP designated Regional Park and OPA Plan designated Santiago Greenbelt Plan.
 
12.6 acres North of the Creek adjacent to Mabury Ranch
On May 18, 1993 the Orange City Council approved a General Plan Amendment (GPA 2-93), Zone Change and Tentative Tract Map to allow the 12.6-acre site north of the creek to be subdivided for a 25 dwelling unit development (Resolution No. 8182 and Tract Map No. 14747).
The General Plan changed the land use designation from R-A (Resource Area) to LDR (Low-Density Residential) and the zoning classification for SG (Sand and Gravel) to R-1-8.  The tentative tract map expired in 2000.  12.6 acres is zoned for residential. In 2020 the City Council approved a tract map for 22 dwelling unit

Fieldstone proposal
In 1999, Fieldstone proposed a 189-unit housing tract, which included 18 homes north of the creek adjacent to Mabury Ranch.  The City Council approved the project in 2003. Citizen gathered the needed signature to qualify the referendum for the ballot.  The City Council rescinded their vote, which reversed all the approvals.

Rio Santiago proposal
In 2009, Santiago Partners proposed a 450+ high-density project and finally settle on 395 units. Zero homes were proposed north of the creek.  Citizens objected to the proposal.  In 2014 the City Council denied the project.

Trails of Santiago Creek
In 2018 Milan REI X has proposed a 129 track home project on 40 acres which exceeds their zoning rights.  Only 12.6 acres are zoned for houses. On October 22, 2019 the City Council approved a General Plan and zone change that would allow for 128 houses. Residents protested the results and went forward with a Referendum. Within 27 days citizens gathered 13,200 signatures nearly twice the amount that was needed.  The Registrar of Voters certified signatures. The housing development was rejected by the voters on the November 3, 2020 ballot. The NO vote was 63%. Citizens challenged the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and ultimately, in July of 2021 the City Council decertified the EIR.

To find more details on this issue go to Keep Orange Safe

News articles on Trails of Santiago Creek proposal



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