| Town
Center debate targets density numbers
Jim Drummond Political Perspectives
Yorba Linda Star - March 17, 2005 -
Viewpoints Section
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Excerpts:
Some observations regarding the continuing Town Center debate
and discussion:
Residents and project planners clearly differ over the definition
of high-density as they discuss the merits of housing proposals
for the 344-acre Old Towne redevelopment area. Historically,
Yorba Linda considers 10 to 15 units per acre on the high
side, but the city’s development partner, Creative Housing Associates,
sees an even higher number needed to ensure economic success for their pedestrian-oriented
Town Center revitalization.
The developers think high density – from 30 to 40 units per acre – can
be disguised by design elements, and they point to their several Los Angeles-area
projects as evidence.
However, some residents note that Yorba Linda has been built as a low-density,
semi-rural environment, and placing a dense retail and residential development
in the heart of the city represents a historic change of direction.
A Creative Housing document says the company’s proposed high-density units
will target homebuyers from the "creative class," which they describe
as "artists, engineers, designers, architects and others" who want
to live in a pedestrian-friendly downtown.
High-density opponents point out that state law requires
at least 20 percent of a redevelopment area’s tax-increment revenues be used to provide affordable
housing for very-low-, low- or moderate-income households.
The well-attended four-day charrette pealed away some project opponents by penciling
in a cultural arts facility and promising to preserve Old Towne’s historic
buildings.
However, density, traffic, taxpayer financing and staunch
opposition to the threatening nature of the city’s eight-year eminent domain authority, has unified other
opponents.
Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment has retained
prominent anti-redevelopment attorney Chris Sutton and
will explore petitioning for an initiative or referendum
vote by residents on all or various aspects of the project.
Some anti-redevelopment activists think a ballot initiative
would gain more voter support than a referendum because
a successful initiative could enact a mechanism that would
provide density and other protections citywide, not just
in the Old Towne area.
Jim Drummond
is a longtime Yorba Linda resident.
JIM DRUMMOND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Yorba Linda Star - March 17, 2005
- Viewpoints Section
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here for complete text - requires
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