A message from Open Coyote Hills

I received this message from Mr. Bob Hayden from Open Coyote Hills and thought you should be equally informed.  I agree with Open Coyote Hills that the City of Fullerton and the region's residents will all benefit from this relatively small development.  I hope you will NOT sign any petition that would jeopardize nearly 30 years of work to open the area to the public. 

Let's OPEN COYOTE HILLS and enjoy the trails NOW!!!

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As you are aware the plan was approved by a 4-1 vote on Tuesday evening by our City Council. This will bring many benefits at no taxpayer expense. These public benefits include: 283 additional acres of restored open space, 5 vista parks, 10 miles of trails and an interpretive center as part of the 72-acre Robert E. Ward Nature Preserve. The Council's action also changed the zoning to allow for low-density housing and open space. The zone change would mean that oil or gas production would no longer be permitted on the property.

Since the vote on Tuesday evening we have become aware that the "Friends of Coyote Hills" -- a 501c3 organization -- has announced through their website their intention to collect signatures for a referendum on the City Council decision. The Open Coyote Hills Steering Committee is reviewing this and will keep you posted on further developments.

For now let me encourage you to not sign any petitions and ask that you encourage your family, friends and neighbors to refrain from signing petitions as well. It is our understanding that an election to vote on a referendum of this type would cost our city $90,000 - $200,000 in a time when the city is already financially strapped.
Our focus continues to be on informing and educating our fellow Fullertonians. Based on the results from our efforts to date we are confident that when our families, friends and neighbors know the real facts about this proposed plan they will support the project. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how to inform our broader community.

We appreciate your efforts.

Sincerely,

Bob Hayden

The Open Coyote Hills Steering Committee:
Bob Hayden, Molly McClanahan, Chris Heusser,
Rick Crane, Jack Dean, Debra Pember,
Tom and Kate Dalton

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Message to Mr. Hayden:  You can add my name to this list of supporters!

Open Coyote Hills group speaks with Fullerton Chamber of Commerce

The Fullerton Chamber of Commerce's Theresa Harvey and Open Coyote Hills' Jack Dean and Robert Hayden discuss the West Coyote Hills development by Pacific Coast Homes. 

This is great information for those seeking to understand both sides of the the issue: to build or to not build.

Click on THIS LINK to listen.

More Open Space Added to North OC!

Opponents of the West Coyote Hills development who wanted more open space and parklands just got their wish! 

The Orange County Register’s Michael Mello reported today that the OCTA has purchased 300 acres in North Orange County to be preserved as open space. 

With an overall price tag of $2.96-million it works out to be just under $10,000 an acre making the Carbon Canyon open space is significantly cheaper than West Coyote Hills. 

Although this should end the calls for more parks and open space, the no-growth crowd will likely continue to pond their fists.  For this minority group, the 120-plus parks north of the 91-Freeway (http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2011/04/observers-love-affair-with-chevron-love.html) and the addition of 300 acres just aren’t enough. 

OC Register:

“Former owner Leo Hayashi had planned to build up to 300 homes on his acreage. However, the city said he could safely build less than half that number because of the area's steep slopes created by the grass-covered canyons and ridges.”

“The money comes from Measure M, a half-cent sales tax extended by Orange County voters in 2006 to fund transportation improvements. A portion of the funds would go toward making up for habitat damage from road improvements and other projects.

In Orange County, a 2005 estimate showed that as much as $243 million could be used over 30 years to restore or acquire wild habitat. About $40 million has been approved to buy property this year, Scheper said.”

To put the scope and magnitude of the Pacific Coast Homes development into perspective, the 760-home development could be worth as much as $350-million even after all of the public dedications are made. 

Yosemite