Battle Over Building on Rancho Mission Viejo

Re “Let’s Keep It This Way,” Commentary, Oct. 21:

Thanks to Councilman John Gelff for his excellent essay on the need to preserve Rancho Mission Viejo and its unique natural heritage. This wilderness landscape represents a fragile and fast-disappearing resource. The Med-iterranean-type system in South County represents one of the biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions on earth. There are only four other places in the world that share this type of climate. The high levels of species diversity found in this ecoregion include endangered plants and wildlife found nowhere else.

The development of Rancho Mission Viejo would contribute to the extinction risk not just to individual species, but to entire natural communities. Biodiversity conservation is not just a problem for a distant tropical rainforest. The problem is right here in our own backyard. The conservation of Rancho Mission Viejo should be a priority for us all.

Gail Prothero

San Juan Capistrano

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Amen to the wonderful commentary regarding the Rancho Mission Viejo land. The facts are in, and unless we act in a responsible fashion, South County will be changed forever and in a very negative way.

There are many ways to protect the land, and none involve land grabs by the conservationists as is often claimed by developers. This land, the remaining open space, is far too valuable as open land and should not be developed.

Development will only decrease the attraction of South County to people who want to escape urbanization, and as such will stop attracting talented professionals and nonindustrial businesses. Let us pray that the people of South County wake up and help stop the process of development before it is too late.

Dr. Leon J. Baginski

Laguna Niguel

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Re “Little Benefit Seen for Parks in Growth Plan,” Letters, July 21:

I found it quite interesting that letter writers live in towns that would not exist if a ranch hadn’t sold the land that allowed them to be created.

From Yorba Linda: “The public insists on a moratorium on new development in the county and allow open land to remain in its natural state.”

From Coto de Caza: “The company seems to be preempting this process and communicating only with like-minded players.”

From Laguna Niguel: “This is about the further degradation of lifestyle in this part of the county and the forces that continue to drive the maximum build-out as allowed by law.”

From San Clemente: “The greedy landowners and developers should go away and leave the place alone.”

I suggest that these NIMBYs consider where their children will live and if they would have the current privilege to live here if it weren’t for these “greedy landowners” sharing the privilege of living here with us.

Susan Trindle

San Juan Capistrano

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John Gelff’s column calling for the preservation of open space in South County is a rare example of an elected official actually representing his constituents’ desires.

Too many of our elected and appointed decision-makers cast their votes on behalf of the moneyed developers and business interests who support their political aspirations, approving massive project after massive project on the dwindling pristine open space in our county. Water and energy resources are already stretched to the brink by the current population.

Robert Caustin

Founding director

Defend the Bay

Newport Beach

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Re “Supervisors Limit Sales of Parkland,” Oct. 17:

I find it incongruous that the Board of Supervisors is requiring an OK from four out of five board members to sell parklands and only a board majority of three to enter into a multibillion-dollar adven-ture at the former El Toro Marine base.

Roger Wibe

Mission Viejo