Local News in Brief : Countywide : 2 Big Land Companies Back ‘Safety Net’ Plan

Two of the county’s three largest landowners Friday endorsed a growth management plan written by a citizens panel--despite its similarity to the slow-growth ballot initiative they have staunchly opposed.

The Irvine Co. and Santa Margarita Co., which have spent more than $350,000 trying to defeat Measure A on Tuesday’s ballot, issued statements Friday saying they applaud the growth management plan recommended by the Ad-Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee on Growth Management and Public Facilities, a panel appointed by the county Board of Supervisors.

In March, the 11-member committee was charged by Board Chairman Harriett M. Wieder to provide a “safety-net” plan that could be used if the initiative fails at the polls.

At its meeting on Thursday, the committee recommended tough standards for levels of service involving roads and intersections that are similar to those in the slow-growth initiative.

But the two development firms said Friday that they much prefer the wording in the committee plan because it is clearer and easier to implement.

Irvine Co. Vice President Larry Thomas said, “If Measure A passes, the committee’s work should be the starting point for creating regulations to implement the initiative.”

Santa Margarita Co. President Tony Moiso said that “while the committee’s plan seems to contain the same goals and elements” as the initiative, it appears to provide more specific ways of achieving them.

The committee’s plan would create a fund to fix deficient intersections and specific growth management areas to be closely monitored.