Blue-ribbon committee needs identity

Citizens selected to serve on Yorba Linda’s new Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee will undertake an important task: charting a future for the Old Town area, while preserving the city’s heritage as a refuge from high-density residential and commercial development.

Initially, at least, the 25-member group will enjoy a level of trust from hopeful residents that is not now possessed by City Council members, who for the past several years have fumbled away many opportunities to build a solid base of support for a revitalized downtown.

Committee members--19 from community organizations, four from council-appointed city commissions and two at-large representatives--need to quickly establish their own identity, independent of the agendas of the council and city staff assigned to the group.

Many Yorba Lindans view the council’s recent actions to amend its eminent domain authority, revoke the hastily adopted Town Center zoning regulations and drop developer Michael Dieden as political moves, meant to avoid a recall and aid in re-election efforts.

And some complain that the council has designed a committee membership that will put a fresh face on the same Old Town proposals that drew widespread community opposition and sparked two successful petition drives.

But the council’s “no fingerprints” approach in allowing community organizations to name committee members can be applauded. However, residents should be concerned about the council’s decision to restrict the committee’s authority regarding zoning issues and the creation of development standards.

If the selection process results in the seating of strong, results-oriented members, the group should formulate its own plan of action and propose a zoning policy that mandates low-density residential and commercial development for Town Center.

Committee members should be selected by May 12. City officials anticipate the group will begin meeting this summer and complete its task within 18 months. Meetings will be open to the public, and the committee will disband after making its recommendations.

Clearly, the future success of a downtown revitalization plan depends on the committee attracting independent-thinking members. They should assume a leadership role on the density issues that council members had unwisely turned over to the former developer.

The 23 organizations responsible for selecting the committee’s members must choose individuals willing and able to correct the council’s past mistakes and devise a plan that builds true citizen support by preserving the community’s low-density heritage.

A FINAL NOTE--A big bash to “raise funds to support pro-housing candidates and elected officials” is coming to the Richard Nixon Library’s East Room on April 20.

Sponsored by the powerful Building Industry Association lobby, the event is billed as a “political action committee gala” and “one of the building industry’s premier events.”

A BIA lawyer recently joined city-paid lawyers in the failed attempt to prevent a June 6 vote on the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative, which would require voter-approval for major changes in Yorba Linda’s planning documents.

Among local officials who’ve accepted BIA campaign cash are council members Ken Ryan and Keri Wilson, who occupy the two seats that will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.