The Orange City Council has approved a series of agreements that lay the groundwork for a roughly 68-acre former quarry, known as the Sully-Miller property, to eventually become permanent public open space. The decision was made at an August 25 meeting, as Voice of OC reported, initiating a process that follows decades of community debate, rejected development proposals, and litigation concerning the property located on Santiago Canyon Road in eastern Orange.
Under the terms of the approved agreements, developer Landify would acquire the property from its current owner, Milan, and undertake significant site preparation. Before Landify's involvement, Milan is required to address identified environmental issues, including removing soil stockpiles where the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board identified arsenic. City Manager Jarad Hildenbrand stated that while not the entire site is characterized as 'toxic,' environmental testing indicated 'specific areas that require additional work.'
Landify's proposed work, which is subject to regulatory review, involves extensive grading and site preparation. This includes cutting back and reconstructing portions of existing stockpile slopes, constructing engineered support berms, removing unsuitable material, and placing new engineered fill with a compacted final cover. Jarad Hildenbrand clarified that Landify's plan involves more than simply covering existing stockpiles.
After Landify completes the required work and obtains necessary approvals, the property would be transferred to the City of Orange. The agreements stipulate that the city will not incur costs for Landify’s acquisition, grading, or site preparation. However, once the property is conveyed, the city will assume responsibility for long-term maintenance and any future improvements, which would require separate city council approval. Jarad Hildenbrand indicated the city intends to pursue outside funding aggressively for these future responsibilities, exploring potential state and federal grants, habitat programs, brownfield-related initiatives, partnerships, and philanthropic contributions.
The approximately 68-acre site operated as a mine from 1919 to 1995. Since its closure, it has been the subject of multiple failed housing development proposals. Most recently, Orange voters rejected plans for 128 single-family homes on the property during the November 2020 election. This latest council action represents a shift toward preservation, aiming to transform the land into public open space.
Plans for the specific features of the future open space have not yet been finalized. Possibilities include trails, equestrian uses, habitat restoration, environmental education, and passive recreation, as outlined by Jarad Hildenbrand at the August council meeting. He noted that the city now has an opportunity to move toward restoration, preservation, and public ownership, concluding a long-standing debate over development.
Residents offered varied perspectives at the August 25 meeting. Reggie Mundekis, an Orange resident, had previously advocated for a park, suggesting it was a suitable solution for a property prone to flooding and unsuitable for other uses. Other residents, including Laurel Maldonado, expressed concerns that approving the agreements might be premature, citing financial, legal, and procedural questions. Conversely, the Orange Park Association, represented by President Sherry Panttaja, supported the agreements, viewing the effort as an opportunity to advance the city's general plan for open space and provide a lasting public benefit. Councilmember Jon Dumitru expressed hope that the project could help unify a community that has debated the property's future for decades.
City officials acknowledge that the full realization of the public open space is a multi-year process. Jarad Hildenbrand enumerated several significant steps that must still occur, including addressing remaining environmental requirements, completing regulatory agency reviews, Landify acquiring the property, obtaining grading and improvement approvals, completing the required work, and satisfying conditions for conveyance to the city.
