Dana Point Council Holds Too Much Redevelopment Power

I am writing regarding the proposed urban redevelopment in Dana Point. As an 18-year resident on Street of the Blue Lantern, I wish to state my case against redevelopment.

I believe that the people on the City Council are honest and honorable in their intent. They are, however, somewhat naive in their underestimation of the impact they are having on the voters of Dana Point.

First of all, the Urban Redevelopment Agency has the power to condemn my home and sell it all to a big developer. The council says that is not their intent, and I believe them.

Second, there is the $292 million in bonds that they are authorizing themselves to raise, secured by my property taxes for the next 35 years. As one of the 2,600 property owners in the Urban Redevelopment Area, my share of the debt, on a worst-case basis, will be $112,307.

The City Council says that I will never have my taxes raised as a result of urban redevelopment, and I believe it means well. It is, however, overlooking the fact that the portion of my taxes that goes to retire this debt is money that will not go to schools, fire and police protection.

Third, there is the subject that no one at the city wants to talk about, that is, the low-income housing section of the Community Redevelopment Law that requires that 30% of all residences, new or rehabilitated, in the Urban Redevelopment Area must be available to low-income households, and 50% of these units must be made available to very-low-income households. The city says that it does not intend to create a slum in Dana Point.

The council does not yet realize that it is playing with dynamite. I beg its members to forget this nightmare of an idea. I personally like the council members, but if they persist, I will have to join in the petition for their recall.

JACK ROBERTS, Dana Point