Commissioners and Developers

A recent reader’s letter (July 5) cited approval of an interim sand and gravel use on Santiago Ranch as “an example of mindless overdevelopment . . . that has ruined Orange County life style.” This was allegedly another example of money speaking. The reader’s letter insinuated that county planning commissioners are witless nits conspiring with greedy developers.

The truth is Santiago Ranch is owned by a widow who was orphaned in America by her refugee parents. With honor, this fine lady served as a wife, mother and businesswoman. She purchased Santiago Ranch as a clay plant and removed mining equipment from view.

An interim sand and gravel use is a well thought out plan to defer residential development on the property and also provide much-needed road base from a local source. The visionary plan is to reduce the amount of aggregates imported from outside the county during the period of planned local road construction.

The reader’s letter questioned the integrity of commissioners Leavenworth, Wooden and Osborne. I believe that these men show honor in making tough decisions in front of growing mobs of “voters” demanding “public” use of private property. City growth and eight years of no freeways are the major source of traffic problems. Not overdevelopment of unincorporated Orange County. Commission Chairman George Osborne’s visionary record of service is known to anyone who has taken the time to examine the record.

A few weeks ago the U.S. Supreme Court spoke, but few local environmental welfare groups were listening. In the Glendale Church case, municipalities who act as Robin Hoods and “take private property for public use” must pay for it under the Fifth Amendment.

STEVE JOHNSTON

Newport Beach

Johnston is president of Morning Star Industries Inc. in Newport Beach.