A developer is proposing to build 24 homes on the 5 acre Sexlinger property on Santa Clara, which is the last Orange Grove left in Santa Ana, and the surrounding neighbors are concerned about the impact of the project on the whole area.
This property was settled in 1914, when a family known as the Sexlingers built a little cottage amid the oranges, apricots and walnuts, according to the O.C. Register. They hung on to their orange grove even as all the land around them was developed into homes, except for Portola Park.
There is going to be a joint Neighborhood Association meeting at John Muir Fundamental Elementary on Thursday, March 17 at 7pm. It will include the Portola Park and Merrideth Parkwood Neighborhood Associations. They usually have joint meetings. These two associations encompass Grand to Tustin andSanta Clara to 17th.
The Park Santiago and Young Square Neighborhood Associations have also been invited to this meeting.
The development company, Tava, is on the agenda, as is Nick Spain. According to Spain, there is still time to kill this project.
Once the environmental impact report is published (late March/early April), the public will have 30-45 days for review and make comments. There is still at least one if not two meetings with the City Planning Commission. He thinks that the earliest that the City City Council would meet to approve the plan would be in late summer/early fall.
