Equestrian Estates in Orange
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Following a five-year planning and review process, Orange City Council has given its approval for development of Ridgeline Equestrian Estates, 39 one-acre equestrian estates on the former nine-hole Ridgeline Golf Course in prestigious Orange Park Acres.
But as sometimes happens when a development project is opposed by local residents, some of the residents are collecting signatures to force a referendum to overturn the Council’s approval.
Opposition to the project is not over the equestrian estates nor the use of the golf course, but rather over the question of who will control and operate a 3.9-acre horse arena called Sully-Miller. JMI Real Estate, San Diego, is Ridgeline Equestrian Estates’ developer and owns the arena which is currently leased to the Orange Park Acres Association, which has operated the equestrian facility for the past 20 years.
Under the agreement for approval of the residential project, the horse arena owner can select another nonprofit organization of its choice to keep the arena in operation or can donate the arena to the City of Orange to operate the facility or license the operation to another nonprofit.
Local residents are fearful if the arena operation reverts to owner JMI Real Estate, the land might in time be utilized for residential development. Residents want the developer to donate other acreage in Orange Park Acres suitable for equestrian use. The battle is raging.
