Commentary : Comprehensive Approach Is Needed for County’s Growth Problems

No single action will solve the traffic problem in Orange County simply because no single governmental body has the power to draft a document that would comprehensively address the entire Orange County transportation problem.

Dozens of government jurisdictions, including state, regional, county and 27 cities, share transportation authority.

Therefore, it is necessary that we address step by step the various problems associated with growth.

A desired long-range goal ought to be the restructuring of existing government jurisdictions, which would facilitate an effective decision-making operation and establish more public accountability.

In short, we are now deprived of a system that pinpoints where the buck stops.

Unfortunately, a proposal to resolve the structure of government in Orange County to enhance accountability is not on the June ballot.

What we do have is the Citizens’ Sensible Growth and Traffic Control Initiative (Measure A), which deals with various public facility and development requirements in the highly undeveloped, unincorporated area of Orange County.

Regardless of one’s attitude about Measure A, the citizens who organized and collected more than 95,000 signatures must be commended for a tremendous effort that has focused debate and attention on how to resolve our critical transportation dilemma and other growth-related issues.

A principal initiative proponent, Tom Rogers, has stated numerous times that Measure A was modeled after the county’s “roads first” concept contained in the Foothill Circulation Phasing Plan, which was initiated by the Board of Supervisors in 1986.

The regional road network, financed by developer fees and incorporated into the FCPP, involves only a portion of the unincorporated territory.

Measure A expands the geographic area and will require enhanced transportation levels of service, public facilities and public services throughout the entire unincorporated area of Orange County.

Subsequent to the certification of Measure A for the June ballot, Board Chairman Harriett Wieder proposed, and the Board of Supervisors approved, the creation of a citizens advisory committee to make recommendations to the board regarding public facilities and growth management plans.

The 11 appointed citizen committee members have varied backgrounds and include two representatives each selected by the Building Industry Assn. and Measure A proponents.

Notwithstanding the campaign and representations being made regarding Measure A, members of this committee have steadfastly worked in a mature and professional manner evaluating the consequences of various proposals and have fashioned a far-reaching proposal for consideration by the Board of Supervisors.

The citizens committee has completed Phase I of its mandate and has transmitted to the board policy recommendations regarding stricter transportation standards, balanced job housing ratios, commercial and industrial design standards, a rural transition policy, plus a development phasing plan to ensure orderly development.

The committee has integrated existing county policies with the major components of Measure A in developing this innovative and comprehensive growth management plan.

The Phase I report forwarded to the Board of Supervisors (which should be before the board this week) gives full recognition to the free market for residential, commercial and industrial development and avoids bureaucratic meddling with product demand.

However, an enforceable procedure is recommended that mandates a phasing mechanism to ensure that public facilities and public services are completed concurrently or in advance of any development.

In addition, various environmental issues are being evaluated to determine the desirability of amending existing county policies.

This document incorporates most major aspects of Measure A. If the Citizens’ Sensible Growth and Traffic Control Initiative is successful on Tuesday, the citizens of Orange County will be directing the Board of Supervisors to immediately adopt Measure A language as it relates to transportation standards and other public facility requirements, public service standards and certain environmental issues.

Regardless of the election outcome, committee members have unanimously committed themselves to see the entire implementation process through to completion.

When this plan is complete, it will unquestionably be a model for county residents to use in tailoring growth management in a manner that links public facility and transportation improvements to new development in each city throughout Orange County. Thus, the county’s FCPP “roads first” concept, Measure A and this committee effort are a major step in an attempt to re-evaluate past policies to ensure that we bequest future generations a quality living and work environment.

An active citizen, government and business partnership is critical if we are to achieve this very desirable result.