Redevelopment debate grows in contention
Jim Drummond Political Perspectives
Yorba Linda Star - February 17, 2005 -
Viewpoints Section
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Excerpts:
An
already contentious debate over the future of Yorba Linda’s
Old Towne is turning a bit nasty.
A few opponents of the City Council’s visualization
for a revitalized Town Center accuse the council of dishonest, untruthful or
unethical behavior regarding decision-making for the project.
Understandably, council members reject such charges.
They say they are working in the community’s best
interests as they firmly advance their long-held redevelopment agenda.
And, while some residents express surprise at various
elements of the Old Towne project — such as high-density housing,
possible parking structures and the "repositioning" of long-established
businesses — these
proposals have been part of the downtown package for a couple of years.
And residents who’ve watched the votes of current
council members should
not be amazed that they comprise one of the most development-oriented
councils in the city’s nearly 38-year history.
All five representatives received substantial campaign
contributions from developers — as well as individuals, businesses
and political action committees associated with development, building
and real estate interests — during the hotly-contested 2000,
2002 and 2004 municipal elections.
These contributions certainly don’t buy the votes
of council members, as some of their vocal critics often mistakenly
charge.
But the money does help ensure the election of selected
individuals who already hold a pro-development, government-controlled
growth philosophy.
And that attitude is now reflected in the council’s
belief that a much-needed, long-awaited Old Towne area refurbishment
should involve a reversal of the city’s longtime low-density, semi-rural
heritage, which most past councils worked diligently to preserve
for future residents.
A FINAL NOTE — Links to articles Councilman
Ken Ryan contributed to two national trade publications can
be found on resident Jim Horton’s informative www.ylforum.org Web
site.
In "10 Steps to a Successful Urban Infill Project" and "Builder
Marketing: Gaining Approval for High-Density Projects," Ryan,
a planner with a design firm in Irvine, offers tips to
developers seeking approval for urban village-type projects.
Admirably, Ryan recommends in National Real Estate Investor
magazine that programs be based on "trust, openness and consensus-building."
But alarmingly, the he also states, "The
objective is to cultivate supporters, neutralize the masses
and expose the extremists."
And in Builder and Developer magazine, Ryan and co-author
Steve Kellenberg, another principal in the firm,
advocate "establishing
trust, developing relationships and working together."
But again, they suggest "cultivating supporters" and "marginalizing
opposition."
They also say Brea’s new downtown is "an urban
success story" and a "development showplace."
So, in the coming weeks, residents can expect to be cultivated,
neutralized, exposed or marginalized, depending
on their viewpoints regarding the council’s Town Center project.
Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident.
JIM DRUMMOND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Yorba Linda Star - February 17, 2005
- Viewpoints Section
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here for complete text - requires
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