Purpose of The Coalition Group
The Coalition Group was formed to bring neighborhoods and associations together which share an interest in the development of the Sully-Miller sand and gravel site and to arrive at a mutually-acceptable development plan for the site. Initially, the City Council (by a 3 to 2 vote) approved the Fieldstone Company’s development plan in October 2003. Due to the degree of public opposition to this plan, Orange Citizens for Parks and Schools (OCPS) led a referendum in November 2003 which gathered 9,016 signatures opposing the Fieldstone plan, causing the City Council to reverse their approval of the Fieldstone plan. In early 2004, meetings between The Coalition Group and the Fieldstone Company were initiated. A few months later, Fieldstone decided not to renew their option to purchase the Sully-Miller site. The Coalition Group began meeting with JMI Real Estate (JMI) representatives in 2007 because they were considering purchasing the Sully-Miller site. By April 2008, JMI closed escrow on the entire Sully-Miller property including the 7.6-acre equestrian arena property on the south side of Santiago Canyon Road. Dozens of meetings have been held with JMI since 2007. At these meetings, alternative development plans for the site were presented by JMI and evaluated by The Coalition Group. Eventually a Conceptual Plan for the Sully-Miller site was drawn up which met with the group’s approval and was judged to be financially feasible by the owner/developer. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was then jointly written and signed between JMI and the representatives of Mabury Ranch, Orange Citizens for Parks and Schools, and the Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance. The MOU (see Exhibit 1) lays out the parameters of development for the site – now known as Rio Santiago. The MOU also identifies at what point in the processing of the Ridgeline and Rio Santiago projects the dedications of the Santiago Creek Greenway and the 7.6-acre arena site are to be made. The dedications include 42 acres of Open Space on both sides of Santiago Creek to the County of Orange for addition to Santiago Oaks Regional Park and dedication of the existing 7.6-acre equestrian arena to a new non-profit organization. Members of The Coalition Group Mabury Ranch: Dan Swoish & Sue Obermayer Orange Park Acres: Tom Davidson (1) & Pres. of OPA HOA Board Charles Leffler (1) Orange Citizens for Parks And Schools: Greg Holcomb & Shirley Grindle Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance: John Moore, President & Kirk Winterroth, Vice-President The Reserve: Pam Rosenbery (2) Jamestown: Nick Terpstra (3) (1) Coalition Group asked Davidson and Leffler to resign in June 2008 (2) Rosenbery stopped coming to Coalition Group meetings after Fieldstone left (3) Terpstra serves as an advisor/observer to relay information to Jamestown. Jamestown has no elected Board and thus no way to assign an “official” representative. |