SLOW GROWTH : COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SLOW-GROWTH INITIATIVE

1. Will it relieve congestion on the freeways?

What the initiative says: No. The initiative concerns only “the streets of the unincorporated areas of the county” and the streets in the two cities where a citywide initiative is also on the ballot--San Clemente and Seal Beach. The state owns and controls freeways and--as a county measure--the initiative would not affect them.

What the opponents say: The initiative will actually increase freeway congestion by forcing builders out of the county. Many of the home buyers who follow the builders to places such as the Inland Empire will continue to work in Orange County and will still commute over local freeways.

What the supporters say: The initiative was never designed to deal with freeway congestion. But it may indirectly reduce congestion on the freeways by drawing off some traffic to improved surface roads.

2. Will it provide money for new freeways or surface streets?

Initiative: Not directly. The initiative does not include any new taxes or fees.

Opponents: The initiative would actually curtail funding for new roads. It would reduce the number of building permits issued by the county and consequently the fees the county collects from developers for road construction and other public improvements.

Supporters: Street improvements required by the initiative will be paid for by developers whose projects will add traffic to congested streets.

3. Will it relieve traffic congestion on surface streets and intersections?

Initiative: The initiative proposes to amend the county’s general plan “to alleviate present and future traffic congestion on the streets of the unincorporated areas of the county.” To do this, the initiative sets “minimum acceptable standards” for traffic flow. As an example, the standards require that delays at intersections last no longer than 40 seconds during rush hour.

Opponents: The initiative does not provide for construction of any new streets.

Supporters: The measure won’t actually reduce the volume of traffic. It is designed to prevent congestion from getting worse.

4.Will it stop construction of new homes?

Initiative: The initiative ties new construction to the ability of roads and other public services to handle the additional houses or commercial buildings. In neighborhoods with congested traffic, the initiative permits large-scale construction--such as a subdivision--only if the traffic the subdivision creates is offset by road improvements. The initiative also requires a slight additional “measurable improvement” in traffic congestion.

Opponents: The way the initiative is written makes it impossible for a developer to get building permits for big projects in many neighborhoods. The measure will drastically reduce construction.

Supporters: The initiative allows any type of new construction in neighborhoods with congested traffic if the roads are improved within three to five years.

5. Will it push up the price of homes?

Initiative: The initiative does not address home prices.

Opponents: Developers will pass on to new home buyers the cost of road improvements required by the initiative. And prices will also rise if builders are pushed out of the county or restrained from building enough houses to meet demand.

Supporters: The measure doesn’t necessarily raise housing prices. Builders have recently been raising prices solely to take advantage of the large number of local home buyers. Some of those buyers may be crowding the market because they’re worried they won’t be able to find a house if the initiative passes.

6. Will it raise taxes?

Initiative: The initiative does not call for a tax increase.

Opponents: County government would be forced to raise $1.4 billion to make the required improvements to roads, flood control projects and other public facilities if the initiative passes in the county and all 27 cities. The county would have to raise taxes or reduce other services to obtain that amount.

Supporters: County officials have said that the initiative won’t cost that much, although they can’t provide an estimate as to what it might cost.

7. Will it hurt Orange County business or workers by eliminating jobs?

Initiative: Unless traffic capacity and balanced growth occur the county will eventually experience a condition known as “gridlock,” and the result will be the loss of business opportunities, jobs and a reduction in property values.

Opponents: The initiative would slow the growth of the local economy by curtailing one of its most important components--the construction industry. The economy would create about 100,000 fewer jobs over the next 10 years should the initiative pass, according to opponents who cite a Chapman College study.

Supporters: The alternative is to do nothing and watch the deteriorating quality of life drive companies and workers from the county.

8. Will the south county benefit at the expense of the north county?

Initiative: The northern part of the county will be affected only indirectly--if at all--by the initiative’s requirements unless voters in the cities there also approve local versions of the initiative.

Opponents: The residents of north county cities could be forced to pay higher taxes for improvements in the unincorporated south county required by the initiative.

Supporters: County and city officials say the initiative would not force north county cities to pay for improvements in the south.