County supervisors approve Santa Ana Heights projects

Orange County Supervisors today voted to finish 10 projects in Santa Ana Heights, including a new fire station and utility improvements, that will cost $23.7 million.

“This is a red-letter day for our community,” said Barbara Venezia, who chairs a committee that represents Santa Ana Heights.

First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who was sworn in this morning, abstained from voting on the Santa Ana Heights projects, and Supervisor Chris Norby voted against them, but the other three board members approved them, Venezia said.

The eastern half of Santa Ana Heights is in Newport Beach, and the western half is seeking annexation. The whole neighborhood is part of a redevelopment zone, which was created to address blight from John Wayne Airport.

The redevelopment agency’s $40 million fund will pay for the projects, which include widening of Irvine Avenue from Mesa Drive to Bristol Street, the fire station, and an equestrian riding ring. The rest of the fund will go to discharging the agency’s debts and paying a portion of the county’s bankruptcy debt, and the agency will later be terminated.