sully-miller | next steps
Sully Miller (proposed Trails at Santiago Creek development)
128 UNITS PROPOSED IN RURAL EAST ORANGE
The proposal is inconsistent with the adopted Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan, the OPA and East Orange Community Plans
Approximately 96 acres of the 110-acre Sully Miller sand and gravel property has been designated “Permanent Open Space” by the OPA Specific Plan, East Orange Community Plan and Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan since the 1970s.
Milan REI X proposed a 128-unit development. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was released on February 23, 2018 with public comments due on April 9, 2018. There was a consensus by the public and agencies that the DEIR was defective and had to be revised. A Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) was released in November 2018. Over 300 letters were submitted; 275 opposed Milan’s project. On October 22, 2019 the City Council approved the project. Citizens gathered the needed signatures during the Referendum process to get it placed on the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly rejected Milan's project in the 2020 election.
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THE Final EIR (FEIR) VIOLATES THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT WOULD VIOLATE CALIFORNIA PLANNING AND ZONING LAW.
The developer requested major changes to the City’s General Plan and zone changes to accommodate their Trails at Santiago Creek project.
Their project is NOT zoned for any of these uses. Zoning is Resource/Sand & Gravel - designated as Open Space for over 45 years. Only 12.6 acres north of the creek is zoned residential. City council doesn’t have to approved this housing tract.
There is a long history to ensure this property is properly planned.
None of the four plans adopted by the City of Orange in 1970s identifies the Sully Miller site for residential development, let alone track housing:
The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) did not include specifics, needed critical analysis or the true impacts. It simply says that it will bring significant and unavoidable impacts to the area. This ill-conceived plan sets a dangerous precedent. It will impact our city forever.
In December of 2019 the Final EIR was legally challenged. On July 13, 2021 the FEIR was de-certified when the City Council rescinded Resolution No. 11187 which had certified the FEIR in 2019.
128 UNITS PROPOSED IN RURAL EAST ORANGE
The proposal is inconsistent with the adopted Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan, the OPA and East Orange Community Plans
Approximately 96 acres of the 110-acre Sully Miller sand and gravel property has been designated “Permanent Open Space” by the OPA Specific Plan, East Orange Community Plan and Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan since the 1970s.
Milan REI X proposed a 128-unit development. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was released on February 23, 2018 with public comments due on April 9, 2018. There was a consensus by the public and agencies that the DEIR was defective and had to be revised. A Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) was released in November 2018. Over 300 letters were submitted; 275 opposed Milan’s project. On October 22, 2019 the City Council approved the project. Citizens gathered the needed signatures during the Referendum process to get it placed on the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly rejected Milan's project in the 2020 election.
.
THE Final EIR (FEIR) VIOLATES THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
- The FEIR's flawed project description does not permit meaningful public review of the project.
- The project description fails to acknowledge the full amount of development that could occur as a result of the project.
- The Project description is unstable and lacks essential information.
- The FEIR's analysis of and mitigation for the impacts of the proposed project are inadequate.
- The FEIR fails to analyze and mitigate the Project's Land Use impacts.
- The Project is inconsistent with the City of Orange's General Plan.
- The Project is inconsistent with the Orange Park Acres and East Orange Plans.
- The FEIR fails to adequately analyze and mitigate the project's impacts on hydrology, water quality, storm drainage and flooding impacts.
- The FEIR fails to adequately analyze and mitigate the project's impacts on biological resources, impacts to wildlife, wetlands, streambeds and riparian habitat and tree removal.
- The FEIR fails to adequately analyze and mitigate the project's traffic impacts and roadway safety impacts and construction-related air quality impacts.
- The FEIR's analysis of project alternatives is legally inadequate.
- The FEIR does not analyze a reasonable range of alternatives and the analysis of the DEIR's "No-Project" alternatives is deficient.
- The FEIR relies on an inaccurate baseline in its analysis of Alternatives 1 and 2, the "No Project Alternatives."
- The FEIR must consider other feasible alternatives capable of avoiding or substantially reducing the Project's significant environmental impacts.
- The FEIR must be recirculated.
APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT WOULD VIOLATE CALIFORNIA PLANNING AND ZONING LAW.
The developer requested major changes to the City’s General Plan and zone changes to accommodate their Trails at Santiago Creek project.
Their project is NOT zoned for any of these uses. Zoning is Resource/Sand & Gravel - designated as Open Space for over 45 years. Only 12.6 acres north of the creek is zoned residential. City council doesn’t have to approved this housing tract.
There is a long history to ensure this property is properly planned.
None of the four plans adopted by the City of Orange in 1970s identifies the Sully Miller site for residential development, let alone track housing:
- 1. Santa Ana River/Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan (1971)
- 2. Orange Park Acres Specific Plan (1973)
- 3. East Orange Community Plan (1975)
- 4. Santiago Creek Implementation Plan (1976)
The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) did not include specifics, needed critical analysis or the true impacts. It simply says that it will bring significant and unavoidable impacts to the area. This ill-conceived plan sets a dangerous precedent. It will impact our city forever.
In December of 2019 the Final EIR was legally challenged. On July 13, 2021 the FEIR was de-certified when the City Council rescinded Resolution No. 11187 which had certified the FEIR in 2019.
