Spitzer’s Stand on Trabuco Homes

* Your Jan. 3 editorial, “Trabuco Deal is Doable,” in which you concluded that the Saddleback Meadows “problem” should be settled without lawsuits, is about a month too late. When the board voted for 299 homes instead of insisting on continued negotiations, everything necessarily crumbled.

There is no question that a lawsuit will be filed. Unfortunate as that may be, this remains the last means by which the public, St. Michael’s Abbey and the Ramakrishna Monastery may protect their interests and the environment.

Besides other environmental problems, this project is liability hell. Its extremely complex geology includes 100 landslides requiring over 9 million cubic yards of grading. Much of the land desired to be purchased would be graded to stabilize the fruitcake-like geology for home building as part of the sale agreement. Why would the abbey want to buy a piece of property stripped of the very natural form and resources they desire to keep while paying top dollar?

The blame for this situation rests squarely at the feet of Supervisor Todd Spitzer who, again, broke his penned pledge to protect this area, and knowingly thrust this into court in a manner similar to two other problem-plagued projects he supported. Indeed, one was set aside by the court and another is before the court.

It is sad but true that the very bright and capable Spitzer, deemed early on to be a firecracker and, as he labeled himself, “supervisor for the people,” turned out to be the consummate, unreliable dud.

SHERRY LEE MEDDICK

Silverado

* I applaud the Jan. 3 Times editorial regarding the Saddleback Meadows 299-unit housing project in Trabuco Canyon recently approved by the Board of Supervisors.

The development of this property has been the subject of debate and litigation since 1978, when the Board of Supervisors first approved a development of 705 mobile homes on the 222-acre site.

Last year, I acted as a mediator for 10 months, trying to bring both sides together to resolve their differences on a new proposal for the site limited to 44 acres. When negotiations continued to look bleak, I asked Supervisor Tom Wilson to also participate.

Unfortunately, a final resolution was never reached on this dispute despite the fact that I put up $1.5 million of my 3rd District park funds to purchase related open space.

The recently approved project leaves 70% of the site as open space and eliminates the undesirable 705-unit mobile home project, which would have introduced an inconsistent housing stock into the area while wiping out the precious wildlife corridor between Limestone Whiting and O’Neill regional parks. That corridor is now protected under the approved plan.

The Board of Supervisors has spent 21 years analyzing this project. From day one, I have been a strong advocate for a smaller development with maximum open space and I have spent hundreds of hours at the mediation table.

However, the adjacent landowners need to proffer $3.7 million, in addition to the county’s $1.5 million, to make the smaller, 44-acre development happen. Obviously, I cannot force them to write a check even while they have insisted that they have the money.

At the same time, the real property owner has, as The Times acknowledges, a right to develop the property. As I see it, the door remains open for continued negotiations for a smaller development. I am still willing to offer $1.5 million for open-space acquisition and recreational purposes. I continually stand ready to facilitate the parties in reaching resolution at any time, anywhere.

TODD SPITZER

Orange County supervisor

3rd District