At 20, Irvine Is Standing Test of Time

Thank you for your fair and balanced four-part series on the city of Irvine on the eve of its 20th anniversary (Dec. 1-4).

The subtitle, “Irvine: The ‘City Under Glass,’ ” was especially appropriate because I know of no other city that has been watched, studied and critiqued as often or as closely. As one of its original planners, it’s heartening to see the city stand up to the scrutiny so well.

While the stories reflected the thorough research of their writers, there were two points, however, that were misleading.

Former Mayor Larry Agran deserves credit for several environmental initiatives, but the use of reclaimed water is not one of them. In 1967, four years before the city was incorporated, the Irvine Ranch Water District--with guidance and support from the Irvine Co.--opened the innovative Michelson Water Reclamation Plant, establishing the Irvine Ranch as a national leader in water conservation and management.

A dateline on Irvine’s history also noted June, 1990, as a time when “voters swept Agran from City Council” and elected “a council majority that favors approval of huge Irvine Co. residential developments.”

In fact, during Agran’s tenure, the City Council promoted the high-density IBC Urban Village. Its planning commissioners advocated higher densities in Village 38 and Northwood 5 than were ultimately approved by today’s council majority.

While Irvine has its detractors, your series accurately reflected the thoughts of its most important critics: the people who choose to live and work there, who say, “Irvine has more than met our expectations. It has a lot to offer people, babies to senior citizens.”

RAY WATSON, Vice chairman, The Irvine Co.