To Whom It May Concern:

For thirty years, my husband and I have been residents of OPA in the High Horse Trails development, where the purchase of our home included a paid membership to Ridgeline Country Club for the first three years. We have raised our children in this community and have spent thousands of hours at Ridgeline as tennis players, swimmers, golfers, and social members. We met our neighbors, we supported school sports, we volunteered for national events, we partied, and we mourned at Ridgeline through the years.

We were there when Norm Brock ran the club for his father-in-law Herman Lenz, we were there when Dave Freimann took over the club with a lease to buy from Herman Lenz, and we were there when John Martin et. al. closed it down. When Dave Freimann took over, there was no question that the club was a place holder for the eventual construction of homes. Dave made it very clear that his intention for the land was the development of luxury homes, just like the plans he had for the Santiago Tennis and Swim Club which he bought and closed during our membership (and which stands as an undeveloped blight). Under Freimann's ownership, Ridgeline was systematically run on a shoestring operational budget for the purpose of sustenance, not improvement nor growth. Improvements suggested by members and pros alike were never made while Freimann waited for the right time to launch his development. From time to time, Freimann tested the waters and found much resistance in the community to a rezoning campaign, so finally he sold to the Martin group, who seemed to have the capital and the energy to spend on the zone change battle to come. Real estate was booming; it seemed like a good time to unload the property and let somebody else fight the fight.

So here we are. "Not a viable business." Well, for at least the 29 years we were active members, the Club functioned in spite of efforts to minimize its success. Improvements were not made and long term goals for growth of it as a club were not supported, because those were not the stated plans for the property. As Mark Sandford stated in his public statement, "Even the MacDonald's on Tustin could be run into the ground, if one wanted." But even without support, the Club functioned for more than 30 years before we were there and until the Martin group unceremoniously closed it down and allowed it to become a blight in our community. So let's stop pretending the property is not viable as a golf course, tennis club, and swim facility. Let's stop pretending that because it was privately owned, it did not benefit the community, the city, and the region. And let's stop pretending this issue is not about the Martin group making a lot of money on the gamble that they could wangle a zone change out of our city fathers.

Finally, I am offended that a big money machine such as the Martin investors, can come into my community and put on masks such as interested horse owners (RROPA), the Save the Arena Group, and others, who all share the same Martin et al postage machine. As a 4H livestock leader, insurer of horses, equestrian, and equestrian event volunteer in OPA for 30 years, I recoil at the suggestion that these people represent the interests of equestrians in OPA. Where have they been all these years?

To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt: “In utilizing and conserving the natural resources of the city and community, the one characteristic more essential than any other is foresight”. If this open space goes away, it will never be replaced. There is no other recreational facility of this type in the City of Orange. Investors for a recreational facility will come if you make it very clear that there is no other future for this land. Please exercise your foresight, your good sense, and your power to do the right thing. Please deny this zone change.

Respectfully submitted,
Jane H. Canseco
7204 Pony Court
Orange, CA 92869