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Town Center plan's foes set for referendum
Group has twice as many signatures on petitions as it needs to get on ballot.
By CINDY ARORA -
The Orange County Register - Wednesday, January 18, 2006
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Excerpts:
YORBA LINDA – A community group opposed to new zoning rules in the Town Center turned in petitions Tuesday bearing 9,849 signatures - more than double the number needed to repeal the rules or force a public vote.
Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment turned in referendum petition books two days early, despite competition from residents backing the project.
State law required 4,061 signatures, or 10 percent of the registered voters, to challenge the city's Dec. 20 decision to allow up to 501 homes and 560,012 square feet on 60 acres.
"It was an outpouring of people that are fed up," said Ed Rakochy, a member of the residents group. "They are fed up with the City Council not listening to what the community wants."
City Councilman Ken Ryan asked staff to prepare a report on what to do next.
"It's pretty clear our citizens have spoken with some 9,800 signatures. Quite frankly, I'm surprised," Ryan said.
He added, "How can you ignore what took place today?"
City Clerk Kathie Mendoza said she and her staff counted the signatures in 158 binders and took them to the County Registrar of Voters, where the staff has 30 days to verify the signatures.
If enough are verified, the petitions return to the city for certification; the city may then repeal its law or call for an election.
Rakochy said he was surprised by the number of signatures the group gathered - topping the 8,647 gathered last summer for an initiative that would require a public vote on major projects.
Unlike the summer campaign, this one was met with opposition from Citizens and Taxpayers to Restore Old Town Yorba Linda, which touted the plan alongside referendum petition-gatherers.
Citizens and Taxpayers is sponsored by Old Town Yorba Linda Partners, which wants to develop 20 acres in the Town Center with a mix of retail, restaurants and gourmet markets.
Michael Dieden, president of Creative Housing Associates and co-partner of Old Town Yorba Linda Partners, said he doesn't think the petition represents the majority of Yorba Linda.
"There are 40,000 registered voters in Yorba Linda and three-quarters of them did not sign the petition," Dieden said. "This was an unfortunate situation that came down to these extreme measures to take away the renovation and restoration of Old Town."
The referendum, if certified, would give new strength to the Yorba Linda Residents' Right-to-Vote initiative on the June 6 ballot.
Without the referendum, the building limits would be exempt from the controls the initiative aims to create.
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