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

______________________

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

West Coyote Hills Gets Go Ahead

Last night's City Council meeting was long and entertaining.  The final vote was 4-1 to approve the development.  Votes were cast down party lines though the issue transcended local party politics. 

Proving that point, Democrat Council Member Sharon Quirk-Silva did offer up an alternative motion which would have allowed the development to move forward but with some land swapping from Downtown Fullerton.  She didn't get a second so the proposal was dropped. 

After each council member commented and the vote was taken, Quirk-Silva asked those opposing the development to move forward and find common ground. 

There were numerous outbursts by those opposing the development which lead to Mayor Jones repeatedly striking his gavel and even taking some verbal liberties upon those making public comments.

It was disappointing to hear the name calling and heckling from those who want the private property to remain without houses.  There was a significant lack of civil discourse but I can, to some degree, understand why. 

Sometimes when a crowd gathers at City Hall, city leaders give in to the crowds request.  Sometimes they don't.  It is frustrating to be on the side which the Council does not agree with.

In the 2010 municipal elections, voters had ample opportunity to know exactly where candidates stood on the issue of West Coyote Hills.  With that knowledge out there, three council members were elected to represent voters.  The top two vote receivers were Whitaker and Bankhead, both of which being strong public supporters of the development.

The only race that was close was between McKinley and Chaffee who also let there opinions be known.  McKinley, a supporter of the development and property rights, won by a few hundred votes.

It will be interesting to see how the 2012 election shapes up with Coyote Hills presumably a done deal.  In the interim, I would hope that both sides do come together to find sound solutions to their compromise. 

West Coyote Hills

The City Council will take up the issue West Coyote Hills tomorrow, July 12^th, 6:30PM at City Hall.

A YES vote means Chevron MUST clean up the site.
A YES vote means the City will receive a massive influx of cash from developer fees which could replenish the depleted City reserves.
A YES vote means the public will finally be able to access and view the amazing vistas.
A YES vote means new jobs.
A YES vote means more affordable housing.
A YES vote means more public open space.
A YES vote means new trails.
A YES vote means new opportunities.
A YES vote means new friends and neighbors.
A YES vote means an end to costly litigation.

A NO vote means no clean up of the site.
A NO vote means continued costly litigation.
A NO vote means continued budgetary shortfalls.
A NO vote means much less affordable housing.
A NO vote means LESS public opens space.
A NO vote means no new trails.
A NO vote means no interpretive center.
A NO vote means NO job growth.
A NO vote means regressive decision making.

Are you stuck in a rut saying NO or can you expand your mind consider the amazing possibilities waiting for Coyote Hills to open?

Open Coyote Hills. Urge your City Council to vote YES tomorrow's meeting.

The Fullerton Observer - Sins of Omission

With the Fullerton City Council scheduled to discuss and vote on the proposed West Coyote Hills development by Pacific Coast Homes, the Fullerton Observer is working overtime to derail the multi-million dollar development.

The Early July issue of the Observer has several stories of woe from authors, some named and some anonymous.

One such story by an anonymous author, “Public Park or Housing Development?”, pushes the notion that the OCTA was poised to purchase the 510 acre site for use as a park.  That is not entirely accurate and here is why.

OCTA never had enough money to purchase the property.  OCTA offered Chevron, the property owner, $27-million for the property estimated to be worth more than $250-million.

In a letter to OCTA dated March 22, 2010, Pacific Coast Homes project manager Jim Pugliese explained as much.

Pugliese goes on to further explain that they intend to open the property to the public, nearly 250 acres, as well as the liability of simply turning over an oil field without indemnification.

The Observer has chosen to omit these important details in an effort to thwart any development of the property.  Unfortunately, their readers may take as whole truths the misleading spin from the liberal paper without doing their own independent research.

Another misgiving is that North OC needs another park.  There are more than 120 parks north of the 91FWY which municipalities are struggling to maintain with deeply cut budgets.  Another park, as nice as it may sound, places a tremendous burden on already strained budgets.  Without a large endowment, like the one proposed by Pacific Coast Homes, we just cannot afford to operate or maintain another park.

The City Council will take up the issue July 12^th, 6:30PM at City Hall.

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.

West Coyote Hills

July 12th is nearly upon us and with it the public hearing and “final decision” regarding the development West Coyote Hills property.  Please keep mark your calendar!

As many of you know, I support the development of West Coyote Hills – but not for the reasons you might expect.   

First, whatever toxins may exist on the site will never get cleaned up unless Chevron is compelled to do it.  How do you compel the wealthiest corporation in the U.S. to do anything?  Give them incentives.  In this case, allow them to build and, while they are at it, they can clean it up. 

Second, the area has been permanently scarred by grading operations for oil and gas extraction (see image below).  It would be far too costly for the City or even a private conservancy to attempt to restore the lands to an artificially created “natural” landscape and clean up the site.

Third, and perhaps most pressing for many, the property is closed to the public.  If you have been on the property, you were either escorted by a Chevron representative or you trespassed.  I would like very much to see more of it with out breaking the law or having an escort give me a guided tour.  I would like to see the various wild life and walk the trails with my family.  Unfortunately, until the land is open to the public, I can only dream.

Fourth, as many of you know, "sustainable" is a word over used in all the wrong places.  Coyote Hills represents an opportunity to have a truly sustainable open space.  As our city struggles to maintain our existing parks, we must question how we would pay to maintain a new park, especially one as large as the West Coyote Hills property.  Pacific Coast Homes has already promised a sizable endowment to maintain the new open space created by their development.  This is a first for Fullerton - sustainable open space - what a concept!

Furthermore, the opposition to the development asserts that Fullerton and the surrounding community is lacking parks.  The reality is that there are already more than 120 public parks north of the 91 Freeway which we can’t afford to maintain and the proposed development will finally create sustainable open space and public parks. 

For these reasons and more I gave my support to the development of WCH by adding my name to the Open Coyote Hills! Coalition.   

There are many other reasons to support the development of WCH, such as the new vistas, homes, and businesses.

Please join me by attending the public hearing at 6:30PM on Tuesday July 12th at City Hall.  Tell the Fullerton City Council that you support the development.  There is no petition to sign, no one to write; just show up to the meeting and say a few words supporting the development.

Here are a few links regarding the development:
http://westcoyotehills.com/
http://www.opencoyotehills.com/
http://www.opencoyotehills.com/?page_id=28
http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2011/04/observers-love-affair-with-chevron-love.html
http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2011/03/chevron-guilty-of-blackmail.html
http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2011/01/fullerton-observer-lost-in-twilight.html
http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2010/11/fullerton-observer-fear-mongering-news.html
http://gregsebourn.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-open-space-added-to-north-oc.html

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. 

Observer's Love Affair with Chevron - A love hate relationship

It doesn't take a reader long to recognize that the Fullerton Observer is a heavily biased publication. 

Each issue seems to surround Chevron, that "evil corporation that wants to destroy our beloved nature."  Some stories are emotional appeals while others raise valid concerns.  

Lacking any valid points,

at least in my opinion, the Mid-April issue is rife with emotional appeals, two of which I would like to explore here. 

First is the cover story with the flow chart.

The big fallacy, or dare I say lie, in the chart is where the project is approved with or maybe without conditions.  The project as it stands has MILLIONS of dollars in conditions.  Those conditions will not go away and neither will the law suit if the City chooses to deny the project again.

There are many other issues with the story and the chart but I'll leave those alone for now.

Next, let's look at the letter from Shirley Gregg titled "A Myth On Steroids, Chevron's 'No Money'" on page 3 of the same issue.

The author says that Chevron has refused to work with OCTA this year and that the agency has earmarked Chevron as "unwilling to negotiate at this time."  She later states that Chevron has communicated with OCTA this year but rejected their offers.

You can stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and pretend it ain't so, BUT Chevron sent a letter dated March 22, 2010 to OCTA wherein PCH project manager Jim Pugliese outlines what needs to happen for the County or the City or anyone else to purchase the West Coyote Hills property. 

Pugliese writes:

"...the current allocation amount of about $27 million is not sufficient to acquire, restore and maintain our 510‐acre property even if it received 100 percent of the funding, which is unlikely considering the property is a habitat island and there are no existing wildlife movement corridors between it and other native habitat areas (e.g. Puente Hills, Chino Hills). It is also unlikely to receive all of the funding because there are over 100 projects competing for funding throughout Orange County.

The issue of liability is another concern. Acquisition would have to include satisfactory indemnification of Pacific Coast Homes for any future liability from future public use of the land. It is not clear OCTA is in a position to offer this guarantee.

Lastly, we have made a pledge to Fullerton residents that after project approval we would open West Coyote Hills for public enjoyment through miles of trails, vista points and a nature center. Based on our conversation, it does not appear that public access is a priority for your program, and we are not prepared to go back on the pledges we have made to the community."

See actual letter at left.  Click images for full view.  To date, no one - OCTA, the City of Fullerton, or anyone else - has offered Chevron terms similar to those outlined in the March 2010 letter.

Ms. Gregg goes onto share her perceived deficit in parks in North Orange County. 

The fact remains North Orange County has plenty of parks.  Just to name a few which are all NORTH of the 91FWY:

State Parks:

Chino Hills State Park
County Parks:
Craig Regional Park
Clark Regional Park (next to WCH)
Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Featherly Regional Park
Yorba Regional Park
George Key Ranch Historical Park
Also listed as a "park" but not picnic worthy is the Yorba Cemetery

City Parks:
Constitution Park, La Habra
Corona Park, La Habra
Descanso Park, La Habra
El Centro-Lions Park, La Habra
Estelli Park, La Habra
Guadalupe Park, La Habra
La Bonita Park, La Habra
Las Lomas Park, La Habra
Loma Norte Park, La Habra
Loma Verde Park, La Habra
Montwood Park, La Habra
Oeste Park, La Habra
Old Reservoir Park, La Habra
Old Settlers Park, La Habra
Osornio Park, La Habra
Portola Park, La Habra
Richards Park, La Habra

Terraza Park, La Habra
Town Center Park, La Habra
San Miguel De Allende Park, La Habra
Vista Grande Park, La Habra
Vista Del Valle (Westridge) Park, La Habra
Vista Del Valle Park,  La Habra
Arovista Park, Brea
Brea Junior High School Park, Brea
Brea Sports Park, Brea
City Hall Park, Brea
Country Hills Park, Brea
Founder's Park, Brea
Greenbriar Par, Brea
Lagos De Moreno Park, Brea
Olinda Oil Museum and Trail, Brea
Olinda Ranch Park, Brea
Tamarack Park, Brea
Tri-City Park Maintained by the cities of Brea, Fullerton and PlacentiaWoodcrest Park, Brea
Arroyo Park, Yorba Linda
Box Canyon Park, Yorba Linda
Brush Canyon Park, Yorba Linda
Bryant Ranch School Park, Yorba Linda
Dominguez Trailside Park, Yorba Linda
Eastside Community Park, Yorba Linda
Fairmont Knolls Park, Yorba Linda
Hurless Barton Park, Yorba Linda
Jean Woodard Park, Yorba Linda
Jessamyn West Park, Yorba Linda
Kingsbriar Park, Yorba Linda
Las Palomas Tennis Park, Yorba Linda
Phillip S. Paxton Equestrian Center, Yorba Linda
Rio Del Oro, Yorba Linda
Roland Bigonger Park, Yorba Linda
San Antonio Park, Yorba Linda
Shapell Park, Yorba Linda
Travis Ranch Park, Yorba Linda
Veterans Park, Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda Middle School Park, Yorba Linda

George Bellis Park, Buena Park

Lindbergh Mini Park, Buena Park

Smith-Murphy Park, Buena Park

Acacia Park, Fullerton

Adlena Park, Fullerton

Amerige Park, Fullerton

Bastanchury Park, Fullerton

Brea Dam Recreation Area, Fullerton

Brea Dam Park, Fullerton

Byerrum Park, Fullerton

Chapman Park, Fullerton

Downtown Plaza, Fullerton

Edward H. White II Park, Fullerton

Emery Park, Fullerton

Fern Drive Park, Fullerton

Ford Park, Fullerton

Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton

Fullerton Creek Greenbelt, Fullerton

Fullerton Sports Complex, Fullerton

Gilbert Park, Fullerton

Gilman Park, Fullerton

Hermosa School Park, Fullerton

Hillcrest Park, Fullerton

Hiltscher Park, Fullerton

Independence Park, Fullerton

Laguna Lake Park, Fullerton

Laguna Road School Park, Fullerton

Lemon Park, Fullerton

Mountain View Park, Fullerton

Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton

Nicolas Park, Fullerton

Olive Park, Fullerton

Orangethorpe Park, Fullerton

Pacific Drive Park, Fullerton

Plaza Park, Fullerton

Pooch Park, Fullerton

Richman Park, Fullerton

Robert E. Ward Nature Preserve, Fullerton

Roger B. Chaffee Park, Fullerton

Rolling Hills Park, Fullerton

Rolling Hills School Park, Fullerton

San Juan Park, Fullerton

Skate Park (at Independence Park) , Fullerton

Trail Rest Park, Fullerton

Truslow Park, Fullerton

Valencia Park, Fullerton

Virgil "Gus" Grissom Park, Fullerton

Vista Park, Fullerton

West Coyote Hills Park, Fullerton

West Coyote Hills Tree Park, Fullerton

Woodcrest Park, Fullerton

Koch Park, Placentia

Pearson Park, Placentia

Tuffree Park, Placentia

Kraemer Park, Placentia

Parque de Los Vaqueros, Placentia

Parque del Arroyo Verde, Placentia

RiverDale Park, Anaheim

*Recreational trails were not included in the list.

Did I miss any?  I tried to exclude buildings and golf courses though many consider those to be "parks".

122 PARKS NORTH OF THE 91FWY!

How many parks do we need before we have enough?

West Coyote Hills Public Hearings