Traffic and development top list of local concerns
Far more Yorba Linda residents say their own neighborhoods are “generally headed in the right direction” than say the city is on the right track, according to a survey paid for by Old Town Yorba Linda Partners, the formerly active downtown development team.
Residents feeling good about their neighborhoods total 81 percent, while 57 percent think the city is headed in the “right direction.” The city is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track” claim 28 percent, with 14 percent noting the same about their neighborhoods.
Only selected city leaders and developers had access to the poll results until they were released to this columnist two weeks ago. Polltakers interviewed 500 voters last August, including individuals from all geographic areas and all age, income and education levels.
The survey results were reported in a 682-page book, which to date represents the most detailed account of local opinion on important civic and political issues ever compiled.
A key survey section asked voters for opinions on “issues some people say might be problems in Yorba Linda.” The following lists the percentage of voters who identified the issue as a problem first and the percentage that said it was not a problem second.
The highest-ranking problems were traffic congestion on local freeways 91-7, excessive growth and development 80-20, continuing high population growth 78-18, preservation of open space 78-19, loss of small-town feeling 75-23, traffic congestion on local streets 75-25 and reasonably priced/good quality housing 73-22.
Other problems included the need to preserve and restore historic buildings and homes 66-27, amount of state and local taxes 65-29, waste and inefficiency in city government 59-24, air pollution 57-40 and the influx of illegal immigrants into the local area 50-45.
Lesser problems included downtown parking 45-50, high-quality restaurants 45-54, condition of the downtown area 43-55, high-quality retail stores 41-57, crime 39-59, education in city schools 21-69, neighborhood parks 26-72 and graffiti 26-73.
Obviously, voters see traffic, excessive growth, open space and losing Yorba Linda’s small-town atmosphere as more significant problems than an aging downtown and the lack of high-quality restaurants and stores.
Future leaders need to strike a better balance among these competing factors than have the current council and planning commission members. Some council members say they’ve learned a lesson from the recent successful petition drives, but their opponents claim the council’s newly found wisdom is only a political cover until the next election.
A FINAL NOTE
The Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee, charged with recommending concepts and guiding principles for the Old Town area, already has demonstrated unique leadership.
Instead of interviewing the 20 individuals applying for the two at-large seats on the 24-member body, they selected the pair and two alternates by drawing names from a box.
Maybe we should use the same method to pick council members. We’d eliminate the deceptive mailers, phony voter guides, recorded phone calls and trashy roadway signs along with the special interest money that flows into too many campaign treasuries.
Seriously, the “blue ribbon” committee membership appears truly diverse and largely independent. If the group can reach a consensus regarding a direction for Town Center development, it’ll probably be a plan most Yorba Lindans can support.
Residents feeling good about their neighborhoods total 81 percent, while 57 percent think the city is headed in the “right direction.” The city is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track” claim 28 percent, with 14 percent noting the same about their neighborhoods.
Only selected city leaders and developers had access to the poll results until they were released to this columnist two weeks ago. Polltakers interviewed 500 voters last August, including individuals from all geographic areas and all age, income and education levels.
The survey results were reported in a 682-page book, which to date represents the most detailed account of local opinion on important civic and political issues ever compiled.
A key survey section asked voters for opinions on “issues some people say might be problems in Yorba Linda.” The following lists the percentage of voters who identified the issue as a problem first and the percentage that said it was not a problem second.
The highest-ranking problems were traffic congestion on local freeways 91-7, excessive growth and development 80-20, continuing high population growth 78-18, preservation of open space 78-19, loss of small-town feeling 75-23, traffic congestion on local streets 75-25 and reasonably priced/good quality housing 73-22.
Other problems included the need to preserve and restore historic buildings and homes 66-27, amount of state and local taxes 65-29, waste and inefficiency in city government 59-24, air pollution 57-40 and the influx of illegal immigrants into the local area 50-45.
Lesser problems included downtown parking 45-50, high-quality restaurants 45-54, condition of the downtown area 43-55, high-quality retail stores 41-57, crime 39-59, education in city schools 21-69, neighborhood parks 26-72 and graffiti 26-73.
Obviously, voters see traffic, excessive growth, open space and losing Yorba Linda’s small-town atmosphere as more significant problems than an aging downtown and the lack of high-quality restaurants and stores.
Future leaders need to strike a better balance among these competing factors than have the current council and planning commission members. Some council members say they’ve learned a lesson from the recent successful petition drives, but their opponents claim the council’s newly found wisdom is only a political cover until the next election.
A FINAL NOTE
The Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee, charged with recommending concepts and guiding principles for the Old Town area, already has demonstrated unique leadership.
Instead of interviewing the 20 individuals applying for the two at-large seats on the 24-member body, they selected the pair and two alternates by drawing names from a box.
Maybe we should use the same method to pick council members. We’d eliminate the deceptive mailers, phony voter guides, recorded phone calls and trashy roadway signs along with the special interest money that flows into too many campaign treasuries.
Seriously, the “blue ribbon” committee membership appears truly diverse and largely independent. If the group can reach a consensus regarding a direction for Town Center development, it’ll probably be a plan most Yorba Lindans can support.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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