Measure N: Upsides, Downsides

Brea’s Hillside Management Ordinance already bans all ridgeline developments and protects sensitive habitats. Furthermore, it protects 50% of the land as permanent open space, protects wildlife, requires developers to create a hiking and trail system, and protects us by adding no new taxpayer costs.

As of now, Brea’s ordinance seems tougher than the Whittier hillside initiative that it is being compared to by supporters of Measure N. Our current protections were adopted after a citywide task force identified community interest in protecting the hills as well as working with landowners within the sphere of influence.

Brea already has hillside protections. In 1981, Whittier needed to adopt such policies to ensure reasonable development. Whittier never adopted the concept of having citizens vote on project approval. Since Brea already has much tougher protections, there is no comparison of the two. Measure N is an unnecessary and extremely risky initiative.

BILL ROBB

Brea

* Everyone knows that cities and counties have regulations for development. Regulations are set in order to accommodate and benefit the city and its citizens. The landowners in the sphere of influence have worked with the citizens of Brea and the city to find a consensus on reasonable development. They came up with the Hillside Management Ordinance. This plan includes protection of wildlife and habitat, preserves 50% as open land and bans all ridgeline developments.

Brea has hillside protections that are much tougher than the county’s. However, landowners may want to annex their land into the city one day, and that city has to be Brea, as stated by the county. This is why landowners want to work with Brea instead of the county.

If Measure N passes, a citywide vote would be required every time a landowner seeks approval for development on his or her land. The majority of those who would turn out and vote for these special elections would be people with a special interest in it. An unfair vote would be cast and lawsuits could be filed against the city.

Measure N attempts to infringe on one’s rights as a property owner. I am proud to live in a country where my freedoms and rights are held sacred.

DON McBRIDE

Brea

* Your editorial “Growth on the Ballot” (Oct. 29) lumped Brea’s Hillside Heritage Initiative--Measure N--in with similar but different growth measures from other Orange County cities and revealed your ignorance of what you call the current “sound planning process.”

Measure N is about much more than just managing growth. In addition to addressing the negative impacts of hillside development, it concerns the preservation of the open space and wildlife habitat that is a unique element of our community’s heritage.

National Geographic recognized the significance of this open space when it was highlighted in its October issue. In fact, your paper recently applauded the addition of Coal Canyon to this same open space-wildlife corridor.

Having actually been a part of the current planning process, I believe that its foundation, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has fallen well short of its promise. This process has proven to be heavily influenced by the financial resources of the development community. Most of the engineers and biologists who make their living writing environmental impact reports for developers seem to think any negative impact can be mitigated effectively.

Measure N seeks to make this process more predictable and objective by asking the city to develop, with the input of its citizens, standards (not limits) by which to evaluate proposed hillside developments. Only after developments are evaluated using these standards and approved by the Planning Commission and City Council, will a project with a significant negative impact go to a vote of the people.

Measure N was born out of the frustrations of Brea’s citizens.

I suggest you let Brea’s citizens decide for themselves if it is an improved planning tool they wish to use to protect their unique hillside heritage.

GLENN PARKER

Brea

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The writer is a former Brea councilman and mayor.