Managing Growth in a Responsible Way

Re “Crowded Future Challenges Imaginations of Planners,” Oct. 11:

Evan Halper’s article on USC’s Reality Check on Growth conference provided a good overview of the challenges facing Southern California’s continued growth.

At the conference, I stressed that we must balance the need for new housing with the need to protect our remaining ecologically sensitive lands, our clean air and water, and our quality of life now and for our children.

I am working to achieve a solution for the remaining 23,000 acres of Rancho Mission Viejo in south Orange County. What I am trying to achieve is a plan that will enable the landowners to build houses where it makes sense as well as carry on their historic ranching, while preserving globally significant natural treasures that support rare wildlife such as the mountain lion, golden eagle and steelhead trout.

This balanced planning must be based on sound scientific data from state and federal resource agencies in the form of a Natural Community Conservation Plan. This process, initiated by former Gov. Pete Wilson, is designed to achieve conservation while directing development to less sensitive areas. Balanced planning must also be based on community input. We are fortunate that this opportunity is being provided by Supervisor Tom Wilson’s precedent-setting South County Outreach and Review Effort. We have a unique opportunity with the planning of Rancho Mission Viejo to create a model. We must do the right thing for the land and for the children who will live here tomorrow.

Dan Silver, M.D.

Coordinator, Endangered

Habitats League, Los Angeles

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The members of our organization -- the Heart and Soul Coalition -- are very concerned about the impacts of unplanned and irresponsible growth on our natural treasures, and clean air and clean water. We expect growth to continue, but we want to make sure it’s properly managed, makes sense and doesn’t destroy the quality of life we would be proud to pass on to future generations. For the 23,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo development, we are supporting efforts that would enable the landowners to build where it makes the most sense yet preserve the most environmentally sensitive lands.

Brenda Stouffer

Project manager,

Heart and Soul, Dana Point