BREAKING NEWS

Ridgeline development approved by Planning Commission

In a unanimous vote Monday night, the five-member Orange Planning Commission agreed to send a “yes on Ridgeline” recommendation to the City Council.  The commission members all expressed satisfaction with the planned 39-home development, noting it was in keeping with the environment of Orange Park Acres.

Commissioners did, however take issue with the language in the development agreement struck between the city and Ridgeline investors.  Of specific concern was the developer’s offer to donate the seven-acre horse arena property to a non-profit in exchange for approvals on Ridgeline and another property, Sully-Miller.

Scott Steiner believed the language was “duplicitous” and “regrettable,” confusing the developer’s intent to dedicate 3.9 acres with a promise of seven, depending on what happened or didn’t happen during the approval process.  Mike Merino expressed concern that the developer was tying the entire seven-acre donation to property not yet before the board.

The commission did not want its concerns with the development agreement to hold up the process, so based its recommendation to approve the project on its recommendation to redraft the development agreement.

Apparently, changing the property’s zoning from recreation-open space to r-1-40 was not of equal concern.  “This property is zoned open space and we have to change it,” Fred Whitaker said.  “And I’m okay with that.”