Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Orange Heights master plan approved?
In 2016, the city of Orange approved the final plans and environmental review of the Orange Heights Master Plan. This final approval reflected the plan’s 90% reduction in homes and acreage compared to the city’s approved General Plan.
Will new trails be publicly accessible?
In addition to the nature preserve and trails established by Orange Heights, the new community will feature miles of new public trails. This includes the first direct connection from Irvine Regional to Peters Canyon Regional parks for hikers and equestrians and an enhanced Mountains to Sea Trail along Jamboree Road. The existing Puma Ridge Trail – a multi-use trail that starts in Irvine Regional Park and traverses onto private property – will be relocated to run along the ridge of Orange Heights, and widened and improved. It will be formally dedicated to OC Parks for public use and will provide enhanced public access and views across preserved open spaces.
Will new trails be open to equestrians?
Yes, the Orange Heights project will build new paved bikeways for bikers and separate unpaved trails for equestrians and hikers. These trails will be located along the east side of Jamboree Road and through the new Orange Heights community and will connect to existing hiking and equestrian trails in Irvine Regional Park and Peters Canyon Regional Park. Trail crossings of Jamboree Road will be provided at Santiago Canyon Road, Chapman Avenue and Canyon View. These signalized crossings will feature equestrian “shy areas” and push buttons mounted at equestrian height for a safer and more convenient equestrian experience. Importantly, these details and commitments are the direct result of our engagement with local trail and equestrian leaders
What did Irvine Company do to protect views in Irvine Regional Park?
Views from Irvine Regional Park will be protected as part of our planning commitments to the community, city and county.
When will construction begin?
Work is anticipated to begin this summer.
How are open spaces and wildlife being protected?
Working with local community leaders, environmentalists and biologists, Irvine Company decided to preserve 90% of the approved Orange Heights plan area (nearly 7,000 acres) as natural habitat, protecting critical wildlife movement corridors. This land dedication completed and connected the 57,500-acre Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, creating among the most significant nature reserves in the nation that now stretches from the Cleveland National Forest to the Pacific Ocean. These Orange Heights open space areas were dedicated to OC Parks in 2014 as conservation easements – now called the Saddleback Wilderness and the Red Rock Wilderness Areas – and are open to the public.
What is the pricing and style of the homes?
Orange Heights will be a collection of for-sale, single-family homes offering a diverse range of floor plans, square footages and lot sizes. Pricing will be made available closer to market and we encourage interested homebuyers to sign up here to be updated on progress.
What is the Puma Ridge Trail and how will it be preserved?
The Puma Ridge Trail runs through Irvine Company land adjacent to Irvine Regional Park. The multi-use trail offers impressive views across the 6,600 acres of open space the Company preserved as part of the Orange Heights planned community.
As a result of collaboration with the hiking and equestrian community, Irvine Company committed to enhancing and widening the Puma Ridge Trail as part of the Orange Heights plan. Once complete, the trail will be formally dedicated to OC Parks along with an additional 45 acres, expanding Irvine Regional Park and ensuring ongoing maintenance and permanent public access to Puma Ridge.
For public safety reasons, Puma Ridge Trail will not be accessible while the improvements take place. Trail users are encouraged to take the adjacent Horseshoe Loop Trail, which runs immediately below Puma Ridge.