City approves MOU with Milan LLC on Sully Miller properties after residents press for testing, equestrian assurances

The City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Milan LLC aimed at advancing options for the Sully Miller site and related parcels near Orange Park Acres (OPA). Council Member Gyllenhammer introduced the item and asked whether haul permits for large dirt movements would return to council; staff said haul permits over the 30,000-cubic-yard threshold would require separate council approval, though the permit process is ministerial under code once criteria are met.

Several OPA residents and nearby homeowners spoke during the public hearing. Laurel Maldonado, representing OPA residents, said the MOU “greatly impacts OPA,” pointing out two of three referenced properties are inside OPA boundaries and asking why the OPA was not included in the MOU review and how the State Density Bonus Law would yield 30 residences where zoning currently allows far fewer. Drew Whitefeather and others raised detailed questions about testing, Water Board involvement, stockpile toxicity (mentioning arsenic results), capital improvements and whether promises of an equestrian center were secured in the MOU.

City staff and council members repeatedly emphasized the MOU is non-binding and described the MOU as a road map toward remediation and reuse, noting the City has pursued this site for decades and that 30 units (directionally) are preferable to potential larger unregulated buildouts under builder’s remedy claims. The council approved the MOU 6–1 (Council Member Barrios opposed). The motion and roll call occurred in public session with no amendments to the MOU recorded on the floor. Council members and staff said the haul-permit and remediation milestones would return for subsequent approvals as required.