David’s
in for a heck of a fight
Jim Drummond Political Perspectives
Yorba Linda Star - June 9, 2005 -
Viewpoints Section
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Excerpts:
Whenever I see residents organizing to go up against politically
connected, deep-pocket developers, I’m tempted to trot
out the clichéd David vs. Goliath analogy.
I’ll do so again, despite differences between the original face-off and
today’s situation.
Unlike Goliath, who initially laughed at the diminutive
David, Town Center developers are not underestimating residents
who oppose high-density plans for the Old Town area.
The savvy Creative Housing Associates principals, who claim “world-class” credentials,
have re-christened themselves the more folksy Old Town Yorba Linda Partners.
They’ve already financed two citywide mailings and soon will open a Main
Street headquarters.
And unlike the defiant David, opponents don’t want to cut off the Philistine’s
head. They just want plans to reflect the city’s historic density levels
with land acquired on a genuine “willing seller” basis, not under
threat of eminent domain.
The city’s low-density levels were first codified in the 1972 General Plan
and are a major reason most of today’s 60,000-plus residents chose to settle
in Yorba Linda.
Despite widespread concern about high-density commercial
and residential development proposed for the Old Town area
and throughout the city’s western end, the
newly named Partners – Michael Dieden, Gregory Brown and Walter Marks – downplay
the numbers.
During the city-hyped four-day charette process, most questions
were about density, but the Partners wouldn’t commit to numbers, only noting that design “can
disguise density.”
The two Partner mailings also don’t discuss density issues. Instead, the
letters focus on adding new restaurants, preserving historic buildings and incorporating
a cultural arts facility, longtime proposals with widespread public support.
But the recent unveiling of the Town Center’s first phase at a special
City Council meeting at the Community Center, revealed the Partners’ density
plans, including a proposal for seven homes and up to 100 condominiums on a 4.7-acre
parcel.
I’m afraid David will be even more of an underdog than he was in Old Testament
times if the fledgling Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment gathers
enough signatures to qualify their “right-to-vote” initiative for
a future ballot.
Goliath will be backed by thousands of developer dollars,
including substantial sums from many outside interests who
might think David’s success in Yorba
Linda would encourage other Davids to challenge high-density redevelopment plans
in other California cities.
Jim Drummond
is a longtime Yorba Linda resident.
JIM
DRUMMOND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Yorba Linda Star - June 9, 2005
- Viewpoints Section
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here for complete text - requires
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