Letters: Building a better O.C. Great Park
Re “Irvine’s Pretty Decent Park,” Editorial, Nov. 20
In the 1990s there was a long period of wrangling between Irvine and Newport Beach as to the disposition of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Newport Beach wanted it to replace John Wayne Airport, while Irvine and nearby cities wanted to create the Great Park.
Orange County voters picked a park.
But it was wrong to place the Irvine City Council in charge of its development. Ideally, the referendum should have created an independent group similar to the Orange County Transportation Authority, with oversight and representation from across the county.
The concept was “something for everyone,” and we can still make that happen. Nearly doubling the number of housing units to “just get it done” will only negate all the recent work done to mitigate traffic congestion on the 5 Freeway.
It’s time for the county Board of Supervisors to take up the issue. This is not just Irvine’s problem.
Bonnie Benton
Dana Point
While the approved comprehensive Orange County Great Park plan is arguably an overly idealized vision of a new public realm, there is no disputing that the approved pedestrian-oriented park plan was designed by the people and for the people.
This vision grew organically from a mandate approved by Orange County’s voters. By contrast, the plan proposed by home builder FivePoint Communities under consideration by the Irvine City Council is an indecent and thoughtless corporate welfare scheme that will subvert the Great Park’s growing regional and national influence as environmental educator, cultural hub and sustainability model.
Henry Korn
Pasadena
The writer is the former arts, history and culture manager for Orange County Great Park Corp.
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