95,000 Sign Petitions on Growth : Supervisors Toe Fine Line on Measure

With the slow-growth initiative looming as the biggest political issue of the year, Orange County supervisors wrestled Tuesday with the question of how to deal with their concerns about the measure without further damaging an already-shaky image.

A few ideas, some controversial, have been discussed by the supervisors, but there is no consensus. In fact, opinions vary widely.

Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, for example, said he does not favor a high-profile campaign against the initiative, even though he believes that the electorate is unaware of major problems the slow-growth measure might cause.

‘In the People’s Hands’

“I always feel that once an initiative is on the ballot, it is in the people’s hands,” Stanton said. “My personal feeling is that politicians should not take positions on ballot propositions.”

Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, however, was advocating an informational campaign to be sure voters are aware of what they are being asked to approve.

“We will have to take a look at how we are going to communicate the facts of what is going to take place and somehow convince the public of our sincerity,” Riley said. “I’m just not sure what form it has got to take.”

All the supervisors have criticized the initiative, mostly because they say it will not adequately address traffic and density problems. But they are facing a public relations high-wire act in trying to convey those concerns to the public without appearing to be mouthpieces for developers.

A Times poll released Sunday showed that 58% of county residents responding already believe that supervisors represent the interests of developers on the issue of growth. Just 16% said the supervisors represent average citizens on that issue.

Preparing a Response

Riley and supervisorial aides said those figures will have to be considered in preparing the county’s response to the initiative.

The supervisors have discussed placing a growth measure of their own on the ballot to serve as an alternative to the initiative. But one supervisor’s aide suggested Tuesday that such a step could backfire and make the initiative more popular.

Still, all the supervisors said they are continuing to consider a comprehensive growth management plan of their own that would reduce future development in the county and identify innovative financing to pay for new roads.

The supervisors believe they need a public relations boost to make the public aware of what has already been done to address traffic and density problems.

They said the public is unaware of the Foothill Circulation Phasing Plan, a $235-million program for new roads in south Orange County that private developers are funding. In return, the county is freezing the zoning for certain areas, guaranteeing the building of thousands of new homes.

Supervisor Don R. Roth suggested Tuesday that advertising that plan and the negative effects of the initiative might be left up to the private sector.

Roth pointed to a brochure and a film that the Orange County Building Industry Assn. has already prepared in response to the initiative. It is presented as a source of facts that are generally not known about the county and are in contrast with “misinformation” about the initiative, he said.

“I see a gigantic education process,” Roth said. “Who’s going to do it? I don’t know.”

The supervisors said the initiative could cost the county hundreds of millions of dollars for new roads that developers would be required to pay in return for permission to build new houses.

And Stanton has complained that the measure does not have a mechanism for changes.

“If it doesn’t work,” he said, “you can’t fix it.”

Roth cautioned that the supervisors’ image could discredit any alternative measure they put on the ballot. He also pointed out that the supervisors are restricted by law from using their offices to campaign on ballot issues.

The supervisors have been passing around fact sheets this week that show the largest areas of growth in the county are in existing cities, which are beyond the control of the Board of Supervisors.

“I don’t think a lot of people know that,” Stanton said. “The board has been attempting to see that development proceeds at a reasonable rate. The cities have been growing faster.”

The supervisors might also address their concerns to young voters shopping for new homes. They said the initiative will create a housing shortage and will consequently raise the cost of homes, already considered the most expensive in the nation.

“It means that what we have done is say to working people and minorities, ‘You cannot live in Orange County,’ ” Roth said.

“I don’t think people are aware of that.”