Foothills Sentry June 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 2 JUNE 2024 jadtec.com $ 15 95 /mo as low as SECURITY JADTEC HELLO SPRING 714 282 0828 | jadtec.com aco 4202 AND WHILE YOU’RE AWAY, PEACE-OF-MIND PROTECTION Orange moving to allow property owners to swap development rights for open space By Tina Richards An ordinance that would al- low development rights to be transferred from one property to another was approved for recom- mendation to the City Council by the Orange Planning Commis- sion, May 6. It deferred the in- clusion of the Sully-Miller site in the transfer program to the higher body. The ordinance enables the transfer of development rights from private properties zoned recreation/open space or single family to urban mixed-use sites. The goal is to preserve potential parkland while increasing the housing supply in other higher density areas. The objectives of the ordinance are to encourage residential de- velopment in commercial and employment hubs; transition pri- vately held property of commu- nity interest to permanent public open space or a recreational trail; create urban open space in areas where housing opportunities are concentrated. Such tradeoffs use the city’s 2010 General Plan as a zoning/density baseline and were included in the city’s Housing El- ement approved by the state. Sites identified as “receiv- ers” for development rights are mixed-use zones largely in up- town Orange and the West Ka- tella corridor. “Sending sites,” properties that qualify to transfer rights, include former railroad rights-of-way between Fairhav- en and Chapman, the Ridgeline property in East Orange, the parcels behind the dog park and several properties along Santiago Creek. Not included are proper- ties zoned “resource, sand and gravel,” as is the Sully-Miller site. Missing in action During the planning commis- sion’s discussion of the ordi- nance, several members asked about the exclusion of sand and gravel-zoned properties. Anna Pehoushek, assistant community development director, explained that because those sites (e.g. Sully-Miller) had been a source of community discussion, staff believes it is a policy that should be left to decision makers. The commission, she said, could in- clude resource-zoned properties in its recommendation to the city council. TimMcCormick suggested that the ordinance could be a “positive outcome for the sand and gravel site” and recommended that it be passed on to the council for fur- ther review. “Yes,” said Chairman Dave Vasquez, “let the council decide.” Under the ordinance, the city will not act as a broker regard- ing transfer rights. It will be up to individual property owners to ne- gotiate the terms of “sending and receiving.” Most rights swaps would be one for one, in terms of allowable housing units. In some cases, the base density could be doubled, depending on the sur- rounding zoning of the receiving site. In addition, urban mixed-use properties could be both send- ers and receivers, allowing high- density housing on a portion of the site, with open space/parkland on the rest of it. Development on a sending property would be lim- ited in perpetuity by a recorded deed restriction or dedication. Room to grow Vasquez noted that while the program is a “wonderful land use,” it is available only to some, but not others. “It looks like we’re picking folks to gain and others not.” McCormick added that it did sound like “a new game with no rules, but that it is a good oppor- tunity to ‘save the real gems.’” He asked if the program could be expanded to include more proper- ties. Pehoushek advised that any ordinance can be expanded, that this version was simply using the General Plan as a roadmap. “It looks like not everybody wins,” Ruby Maldonado said, “but with more park space, every- body will benefit.” Medal of Honor presented to local sheriff’s deputy Orange resident and Foothill High graduate (2016) Deputy Cole Snyder was presented a Medal of Valor by the OC Sher- iff’s Department. Synder saved an elderly couple from a burning home in Aliso Viejo in December. Snyder was on patrol when he got the call about a house fire, and was the first on the scene. Despite heavy smoke and intense heat, he worked his way to the rear of the home where he found a woman having difficulty breathing and walking. He led her to the front of the house, where another officer and paramedics had just arrived. Hearing a call for help, he reen- tered the house and found a man covered in soot with severe burns and, along with Officer Steven Ledesma, pulled him to safety. Both victims survived their inju- ries; Deputies Cole and Ledesma were hospitalized for smoke in- halation. Cole joined the Sheriff’s De- partment as a correctional service agent soon after graduation. At age 20½, he entered the Sheriff’s Academy to become a deputy. He remained in corrections for sev- eral more years. Patrolling Aliso Viejo was his first field assign- ment as a sheriff. Deputy Cole Snyder Areas (in pink) identified as "re- ceivers" of development rights. Areas (in green) identified as "senders" of development rights.