New Teeth in Lot Grading Rules

Building a home in Orange County’s canyon country often requires calling in the bulldozers to flatten land for the foundation. For years, excessive grading in Trabuco, Modjeska and other canyons has been illegal. It would be good if the latest effort to crack down on overgrading achieves more success than previous attempts. A builder who chops the top off a hill and pushes the debris aside may very well create a desirable lot, but as a result any residents below may be living in constant danger of landslide or flooding.

The County Board of Supervisors last month approved a new system to try to stop illegal grading. Past crackdowns, dating back many years, had varying degrees of success. It is hoped this one will work out better.

After the county declared bankruptcy in December 1994, the district attorney’s office said budget cuts meant it would prosecute grading cases only rarely. The supervisors have now authorized officials of the Environmental Management Agency to issue citations to violators on their own. This means the agency can call offenders into court without first getting a go-ahead from the district attorney’s office.

The grading rules should be enforced. Canyon residents who see violations, which are usually difficult to spot from the road, can help by notifying county workers. Besides posing a danger, illegal grading gives an undeserved break to a few people while the majority plays by the rules.