Irvine Co. Victory Means Loss for the Coast

* Re “Sensitive Zone Can Get Runoff,” Oct. 8:

Ignorance, arrogance or both?

Based upon the comments credited to Craig Wilson of the state Water Resources Control Board, I would say both.

Ignorance of environmental systems was clearly demonstrated. Arrogance was also clearly apparent in Wilson’s contention that he knows the Ocean Plan far better than any private attorney. His statement that the Ocean Plan does not apply here because “this project is inland of the ocean” is pure drivel. What development project isn’t inland of the ocean?

What a terrible precedent to set. There was no argument that the project wouldn’t harm the coastal ocean; just one person’s opinion that the Ocean Plan did not apply.

GEORGE ROBERTSON

Santa Ana Heights

* Let me get this straight. Urban runoff has now been identified as a big problem for So Cal beachgoers. Furthermore, Crystal Cove has been identified as one of 34 extremely sensitive coastline sites. But it is “legally” OK to dump Irvine Co. construction and the eventual residential runoff into Crystal Cove because it flows across a beach instead of through a pipe.

Only a lawyer--Craig Wilson--could come to such an outrageous, weasel-like conclusion. But wait, it gets better. We taxpayers will foot the bill if the situation is found to be an environmental problem, while the Irvine Co. (and probably Craig Wilson) gets away free. This absolutely cannot be tolerated.

STEVE HIRASHIKI

Aliso Viejo

* How dare the Irvine Co. work the political system to get exceptions to the rules once again.

The beaches at Crystal Cove State Park will now be the recipients of all the storm drains from the 800 homes and 125,000 square feet of retail space they are planning to build across Coast Highway.

This land was originally promoted by them to be dedicated for large home sites, up to six acres, which would have had minimal environmental impact as compared to what they quietly managed to get approved by the county instead. In addition to the storm drains, the Irvine Co. is planning to fill in six miles of Los Trancos Creek and Muddy Canyon, manipulating nature to achieve maximum development of this precious land.

Our politicians and government agencies continue to cave in to the unrelenting pressure from them. It is very hard for concerned citizens who care about the quality of life in our coastal communities to compete with the teams of Irvine Co. lawyers who have the time and resources to get what they want in the end.

Crystal Cove is yet another huge development that will benefit no one except the Irvine Co.

LIZANNE WITTE

Corona del Mar