The first major step in the project timeline for The Irvine Ranch east of Orange was the company’s filing of a plan with the City of Orange in April 2003.

Following the plan filing, the city issued a Notice of Preparation to initiate a year-long Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process, which included the preparation of a draft EIR by a city-appointed consultant. The draft EIR has been completed and the city circulated the document for public review and comment on October 20, 2004. The city will respond to public comments, and the DEIR will be reviewed in public meetings before the planning commission and city council.

The following information is provided to highlight key steps in the City of Orange's environmental review process of The Irvine Company's application. If you have any questions as the process proceeds, please feel free to contact Ed Knight, City of Orange, at 714-744-7236 or eknight@cityoforange.org. You may also visit the city’s web site at www.cityoforange.org.

• With submission of the project application, the City of Orange finalized the scope of work for an environmental consultant to conduct the environmental assessment of the project as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Jones & Stokes, as the City's selected environmental consultant, will assist the City throughout the entire CEQA process. Jones & Stokes and their sub-consultants will provide in-depth evaluation of existing information, as well as prepare new environmental studies and a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts of the current project proposal.
• The City published a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report on September 19, 2003 which initiated the environmental review process of the project. The public review period was held Monday, September 22, 2003 through Wednesday, October 22, 2003. Several Scoping Meetings were held to solicit input from community members and other interested parties. The meetings were held October, 2, 7, 8 & 9 at various locations throughout the city.
• Taking into account comments received as a result of the Notice of Preparation and the Scoping Meetings, the City's EIR consultant prepared and reviewed technical reports, and prepared a Draft EIR. The City prepared the draft EIR to identify and evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project.
• The draft EIR was released Oct. 20, 2004 and the City circulated it for public review and comment through Monday, Dec. 6, 2004. Copies of the draft EIR were available for review at the City’s Community Development Dept., at the Orange Main and El Modena city branch libraries, and the Silverado and Villa Park branches of the County of Orange library. It was also available on the City’s web site.
• The environmental consultant and city staff evaluated the comments that were received by the public and prepared a response to each comment. The Response to Comments for Santiago Hills II and East Orange Planned Communities was finalized at the end of May 2005. The document is available on the City of Orange web site www.cityoforange.org.
• The City has held several Study Sessions with the City Council and Planning Commission to review the EIR. A Joint Study Session with the City Council and Planning Commission was held April 4, 2005 to review the Public Services and Community Facilities components (including community parks, trails and public facilities) of the proposed Santiago Hills II / East Orange development.
• A Planning Commission Study Session was held April 18, 2005 to review Traffic & Circulation. The Noise and Affordable Housing session was held June 7, 2005. A City Council workshop was held June 28, 2005 to review the ROMP.
• In accordance with local ordinances, the Planning Commission held public hearings July 18 and August 15, 2005. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project at the August 15 meeting.
• The City Council held public hearings September 27th, and October 11th and 25th to consider certification of the EIR and approval of the project. The hearing was continued to November 8, 2005, where the City Council unanimously approved the project. Now that the public hearing and approval process is complete, The Irvine Company will begin to implement the approved plan.
• Site preparation work began in early December 2005, and grading is expected to begin later this year.