Open Space or Politics as Usual?

Thank you for your excellent coverage July 18 of the Natural Community Conservation Planning celebration--clearly a very big day for all of us who have worked to see this legacy of open space become a reality. A focused player throughout the process, Tim Neely, Orange County’s planning administrator, deserves a very special congratulations for having weathered the tribulations and arduous work represented in the final product. Were it not for his efforts, we would never have achieved this phenomenal approach to wild lands preservation.

MARIAN BERGESON

Supervisor, 5th District

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It’s ironic and infuriating that Orange County’s newspapers allowed themselves to be used to help Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren dupe Orange County’s citizens.

Photographs of Don Bren and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in Irvine’s Shady Canyon were prominently featured in Orange County newspapers. The articles talk about the Orange County wildlife preserve and ushering in a new era. What the public does not know is that this last beautiful pristine habitat in Irvine is slated to be bulldozed and dynamited. Yes! Dynamited, to make way for estate homes and golf courses.

In regard to the San Joaquin Hills toll road near Shady Canyon, in 1984 the developers outspent the residents of Orange County 19 to 1 to promote Measure A in order to force the taxpayers to build their development corridors, now known as the toll roads. The developers were overwhelmingly defeated. Later, the Orange County Transportation Agency and the toll road agencies commissioned a survey where 60% of Orange County residents were still in opposition to these development corridors.

Do the voters or public opinion stop developers like Bren? No! The developers championed the creation of a Joint Powers Authority and proceeded to build these development corridors right through Orange County’s wildlife reserves. Not only did they build these toll roads through wildlife habitat, but they used Mello-Roos funds of $67.9 million from Aliso Viejo, $15.7 million from Foothill Ranch and $111 million of state gas tax money to build these roads without a single vote from the taxpayers. Unfortunately, what counts in Orange County is not the will of the voters or the future of our children, but the word of Donald Bren. So let it be written, so let it be done.

GEORGE M. GALLAGHER

President

The Irvine Conservancy

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The July 18 article “Finding Middle Ground,” covering Orange County’s dismal new open-space plan, missed the essence of what had occurred and what was occurring.

“Middle ground” is a misnomer. Developers and conservationists did not meet halfway. The plan is a fat plum for developers, and conservation lost big. As with every important land-use decision in this county--whether it involves citizens-in-general or conservationists--the scale was tipped by developers’ huge campaign donations, relentless lobbying, smart lawyers, disdain for scientific honesty and disdain for the community.

The result here is a deactivated Endangered Species Act and a toothless replacement. In addition, almost all habitat supposedly rescued by the plan was either established public parkland or exactly what developers already were scheduled to sign over before the Endangered Species Act was on the table. If a conservationist says the deal is pretty good, the unspoken qualifier is “considering the political climate.”

You were right about one thing. This open-space plan could become a national model. There’s corporate money pushing for it.

JANET REMINGTON

Costa Mesa

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As noted in your July 28 editorial, the Natural Community Conservation Planning promises a much improved, enlightened process for balancing development and environmental concerns.

But our performance must be faithful to the NCCP spirit.

You reported that the picturesque signing site is targeted for development. The beautiful grove the Irvine Co. chose for the ceremony is in fact one corner of the legendary Shady Creek Triangle, the most contentious environmental issue remaining in their massive Shady Canyon project.

The triangle is only three acres out of 800 scheduled for bulldozing. Only four home sites out of 400 in the project. But it is right at the environmentally delicate confluence of the two streams, right between what are supposed to be the first two NCCP “special linkages” for wildlife. The Irvine Co. repeatedly has refused to spare this tiny parcel.

Will history view this signing site as a symbol of enlightened environmental commitment? Or as a symbol of hypocrisy at the very inception of the NCCP?

I hope Bren, Secretary Babbitt and the other officials who experienced the special beauty and unique natural resources of Shady Canyon will use this opportunity to declare the Shady Canyon Triangle to be preserved as open space.

ROBERT LAVIETES

Irvine