Wilson
steps up to task of shaping density
Jim Drummond Political Perspectives
Yorba Linda Star - July 7, 2005 -
Viewpoints Section
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Excerpts:
Mayor Keri Wilson has emerged as the City Council’s
most effective and responsible member regarding Town Center
redevelopment. Her comments on high-density housing have
resulted in project developers reducing the number of units
on several land parcels.
While other council members ask developers what density
levels they need for financial success, Wilson works to keep
the numbers more in line with the city’s
historic standards.
The mayor clearly values public input. Other council members
lecture at length about what’s needed for “the heart and soul of the community” and
say, “We can’t please everyone.”
For Wilson, at least, the recent downtown workshops were
not a publicity gimmick, and the monthly community meetings aren’t merely “dog and pony” shows
by the developer.
Of course, Wilson solidly supports the Old Town makeover,
and she often can be curt with opponents during the council’s public comment periods.
But so far she’s the only council member to truly respond to citizen
concerns about high-density development.
In fact, Wilson’s colleagues should consider keeping her on for another
one-year stint as mayor when her term expires in December. She’s grown
much more confident in her role since her early council meetings when she’d
apologize for asking questions of city staff.
If the Old Towne developers want real citizen support and a 4-0
council vote for their redevelopment plans, they’ll continue to listen to Wilson and
moderate their housing density proposals in the project’s
first phase, as well as the several future phases.
And if Wilson adheres to her 2002 campaign pledge – ”We cannot
tolerate high-density housing or destruction of our open spaces” – Yorba
Linda might end up with a vibrant Town Center area that also reflects the community’s
historic low-density identity.
Jim Drummond
is a longtime Yorba Linda resident.
JIM
DRUMMOND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Yorba Linda Star - July 7, 2005
- Viewpoints Section
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here for complete text - requires
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