Not Too Early for Urban Boundaries
Re: “Limits That Help City Grow” (Ventura County Perspective Interview, Jan. 4):
Portland, Ore., Councilwoman Susan McLain’s article stressing the need to set urban boundaries to protect the quality of life in our community is right on!
In many ways, Ventura County is a well-balanced example of a spread version of the city of Portland. We have it all--successful agricultural uses, semi-distinct urban areas, planned residential communities and open spaces.
But it won’t last. And as the Southern California economy remains on an upswing, the demand for cheap homes will drive politicians and planners to approve expanding or reinventing our urban boundaries for the sake of “affordable” housing.
But just look at the result of affordable housing--residential downtown Los Angeles--and see that the term “affordable” also means undesirable and unsafe.
So let’s make those boundaries now--and stick to them.
VINCE CURTIS
Oak Park
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