Fishy Doings Behind Big Development Plan

The Orange County planning staff gave a big present to Rutter Development by way of endorsing its 162-unit development plan in the Silverado Canyon area.

This plan, which requires major rule changes for developing the canyons and valleys, calls for the removal of more than 1,000 oak and sycamore trees and would allow for major changes in the grading guidelines within the Foothill Trabuco Specific Plan. The specific plan is the “rule book” or guideline for development within the canyon area encompassing more than 6,000 acres of Orange County.

Imagine mass grading and the removal of oak and sycamore trees surrounding the lands behind Cook’s Corner, north on Santiago Canyon Road and east up Live Oak Canyon Road. That is just what the county staff is suggesting by endorsing this development plan, even though the residents of the canyons chose to live here with the understanding that the Foothill Trabuco Specific Plan, which was adopted by the county and made law in 1991, would protect the area from exactly this type of outrageous threat.

The interesting question at this time: What did the county staff negotiate with Rutter Development and its consultants to allow for the amendments necessary to the Foothill Trabuco Specific Plan to support this application? Were these concessions analyzed in the EIR, and was the public noticed of any concessions or behind-the-scenes deals made?

James M. O’Malley

Silverado Canyon