Orange · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Orange public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Orange Mall Redevelopment and AB 2011 Concern
A resident who lives behind the old Orange Mall blasted the condition of the site and her district representative's lack of communication. The Village at Orange specific plan development was among the top-voted priorities.
Maybury Ranch billboard and dirt hauling concerns
Dan Swoish returned to flag a billboard he says violates the city's own sign rules and warned about 10,000 truckloads of dirt being hauled onto the Horton property, including a dirt dam across a riparian creek that he fears could wash out in rain.
Surplus land declarations for eleven city properties
The city put eleven properties — including the historic Royer Mansion, two Cypress Street homes, and the full Grand Street block — on the surplus land path, opening the door to future public-private development. Staff and the city attorney stressed the city keeps control and can pull properties back, and historic protections stay in place.
The Win~Dow restaurant at the former Texaco station
Two vacant historic gas station buildings in Old Towne will become a restaurant with walk-up service, outdoor dining and a full bar. Neighbors worried about the six-foot fence, the mechanical roof screen, and maintenance of decomposed granite. The committee approved it with conditions on lighting, fence color and trees.
Redevelopment of vacant Tustin Street commercial site with 71 homes
A long-vacant Best Buy store at 2375 N. Tustin Street could become 71 three-story small-lot single-family homes. Supporters say it adds much-needed for-sale housing, walkability, and about $183,000 a year in city revenue; neighbors worry three-story walls and windows will overlook their one-story condos and mobile homes.
15-home subdivision at 715 W. Fletcher Avenue
A vacant 0.72-acre lot will become 15 detached three-story homes, including one affordable for-sale unit — a rarity the council praised. Neighbors' parking concerns were addressed with garage-parking rules in the HOA documents.
Rancho Ridge 11-home PUD at 647 N. Rancho Santiago Boulevard
An 11-home planned development on a deep 2-acre parcel near the nursery and a church. Supporters say it's exactly the kind of family housing Orange rarely builds; a neighbor raised concerns about rats, traffic at the four-way stop, and street conditions.
Sully Miller dirt hauling route for Tract 18163
240 truck trips a day for six months to grade the old Sully Miller site — the fight was over whether any trucks would cut through Mabury Ranch. The approved plan makes the land-bridge route primary and reserves the neighborhood route for a documented emergency only.