Silly season signaled by pro developer flier's stance

Mayor Keri Wilson is the first City Council member to raise specific concerns about high-density housing plans in the first phase of the Old Town redevelopment project.

Wilson’s comments came during the first in a series of community meetings to review Town Center concepts as presented by Los Angeles-based Creative Housing Associates.

She said the proposal for seven single-family homes and from 80 to 100 condominium units on the 4.7-acre Lakeview Avenue “strawberry patch” should be “tweaked a bit.”

Of course, more than a bit of tweaking would be needed to bring Old Town area housing plans in line with Yorba Linda’s longtime definition of high density--10 units per acre.

But at least Wilson is making a gesture toward her strongly written 2002 campaign statement: “Our zoning has promoted low- and medium-density housing. We cannot tolerate high-density housing or destruction of our open spaces.”

Other council members should address the density issue head-on. Instead, they and the developers talk about historic preservation, more restaurants and cultural arts facilities--proposals that already have citywide support.

Unfortunately, city officials and their developer-partners see preservation in very limited terms, such as saving old buildings and imitating historic design styles in new ones.

Historic buildings are worthy of preservation and imitation, but our city’s true historic identity is its low-density environment--the reason most residents chose to live here. Council members should preserve this heritage and not let it slip away irretrievably.

Fortunately, a grassroots group of residents with more idealism than money is attempting to qualify an initiative for the ballot giving Yorba Lindans the right to vote on major changes to the city’s General Plan. But it’s sure to draw large-scale developer opposition.

Community activist and initiative supporter Sue Fenwick notes, “We will naturally be outspent by those who haven’t contributed their volunteer service or built our community in any other way…(but) we have to give it a go regardless of the odds.”

And preservationist and initiative leader Ed Rakochy says, “Win or lose, I know I will be able to sleep at night because our effort came from the heart and not the bank account.”

Key initiative support comes from two former councilmen who had solid low-density voting records. Hank Wedaa says the initiative “is easily a winner” because residents “are tired of traffic.” Mark Schwing notes, “People will see through the developer dollars.”

Wedaa concedes that Old Town developers “want to build a nice city,” but “their perceptions differ from residents.” Schwing says city leaders are wrong on Old Town redevelopment, noting, “They do not have the public mandate they say they have.”

A FINAL NOTE--Although the “right-to-vote” initiative hasn’t yet qualified for a ballot, we’ve already entered a political silly season of wildly irresponsible campaign claims.

A flyer from Concerned Yorba Linda Citizens says the initiative will “inhibit the ability of the fire department to fight fires and protect the homes of Yorba Linda residents.”

Readers are invited to e-mail me examples of other outrageous statements for future columns. Hint: council meetings present especially fertile fields for reckless remarks.