IRVINE – The city gave the green light to build 734 homes in the developing Orchard Hills neighborhood despite concerns from those who oppose a new proposed substation about increasing energy demands.
The city’s Planning Commission on Thursday night voted 4-0 in favor Irvine Co.’s single-family and condo development in the north end of town. Vice Chairman John Duong was absent for the vote.
The master plan of Orchard Hills, north of Portola Parkway east of the 261 toll road and featuring about 4,000 homes, had already been approved. Thus the approval of specific home plans there usually would have been a routine item for the commission.
But on Thursday, the project faced opposition from those fighting Southern California Edison’s plan to build a new electrical substation in the middle of a research and industrial park on the east end of Irvine.
Edison has stated its main Santiago Substation in Irvine is reaching capacity, the opponents pointed out.
They stated in their letter to the city: “It is irresponsible for the city to continue approving any more development projects until a new master plan review of electrical energy consumption is developed.”
Chairwoman Patty Bartlett said Edison assured the Irvine Co. in a Jan. 5 letter there’s enough electricity to serve the Orchard Hills development.
“There’s a potential based on projections that future is going to be an issue, that doesn’t mean this project specifically can’t be serviced today or that this project specifically doesn’t have sufficient power,” Bartlett said. “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to hold up the Irvine Co’s project when they’ve done everything they need to do and have this letter from Edison.”
One resident told the commission she’s worried the new development may exacerbate traffic congestion in the city.
Here are more items from Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting:
Auto Center sign: The commission tabled its discussion on a request by Irvine Auto Center dealerships to allow off-premise advertising on its electronic freeway sign until the first meeting in March.
The auto center association has sold air time on the sign to businesses, such as Chick-fil-A and CBS Los Angeles, that are not part of the center. The city notified the association it’s violating the sign ordinance.
At its next meeting on Feb. 16, the Planning Commission is slated to discuss two freeway signs at Irvine Spectrum Center that some commissioners also consider are violating the city’s ordinance.
New hotel: The commission unanimously approved a new six-story, Marriott-brand extended stay hotel at its gateway to the city near the 405 freeway Jamboree Road exit.
TownePlace Suites would feature 165 rooms for business and leisure travelers on a 1.6-acre site in the Irvine Business Complex, a job-rich district near John Wayne Airport.
Reorganization: At the beginning of the meeting, the commission selected Bartlett as its chair for 2017 and Duong as vice chair.
Contact the writer: tshimura@scng.com
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