Approval of Las Flores Project--Yes, Facts Are Stubborn Things

The Times editorial of Jan. 23 (“Always in Such an Amazing Rush”) attacking the Board of Supervisors’ approval of the Las Flores project and supporting the lawsuit challenging that approval, represents an example of the worst kind of reflexive, ill-informed, “politically correct” editorial comment.

“One need not evaluate the lawsuit,” concluded The Times, “to know that this particular project’s journey through the review process left much to be desired.”

Only a judgment avowedly unconcerned with the “merits,” could have reached that conclusion. But, as the oft-quoted phrase goes, “Facts are stubborn things.” The Times would have done itself well to have at least considered these facts:

* Las Flores’ approval by the board’s 4-1 vote carried a condition that 60% of the project’s homes meet “affordability” criteria.

* Of the 1,005 acres involved in the project, 565 are designated “open space.” More than 300 acres of that open space are valued as sensitive habitat for wildlife species of special concern.

* The board’s approval culminated a two-year review process that included 12 public hearings and produced a written record spanning thousands of pages.

* The board’s only dissenting vote came from a supervisor concerned that the housing affordability requirement is too burdensome and amounts to a harmful precedent.

Not only did The Times discard these facts, the paper appears to have been unaware of them. The lure of the no-growth agenda bordered in green proved too powerful. Judgment was abandoned. An all-seeing omniscience was substituted in its place.

Indeed, the paper’s conclusion that “normal channels” were abandoned amounts to the worst kind of innuendo and should be retracted.

Perhaps the next time The Times decides to target a cheap shot at both county officials and private development, it will at least make an attempt to give a passing glance at the facts.

That’s a time-consuming process, I know, but one that is owed to your readers. Until such a change occurs, the readers will do well to recall Jefferson’s comment that newspapers ought to come labeled in three parts: facts, opinions and lies.

HUGH HEWITT, Irvine. Hugh Hewitt’s law firm represents the Santa Margarita Co., owner of Las Flores.