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Losing Touch Over Property Rights The Orange County Register editorial page staff seems to have lost touch with the bulk of conservatives who are trying to keep south Orange County as one of the best places to live in America or even the world. The Register is big-time ballyhooing high-rise residential developments in Irvine and north Orange County, with scant corresponding upgrades of streets and infrastructures. This is going to drive even more Orange County residents to look south to relocate. With the libertarian view of absolute property rights, the Register strongly opposed successful initiatives in Newport Beach and Yorba Linda, whose residents were fed up with changes in zoning to high-density residential and mixed use. Mission Viejo activists are moving toward a similar initiative. Yorba Linda’s 300-vote yes margin held up in the final tally and was certified. The Register rightfully thinks it is wrong for Brea to intentionally downgrade vacant hillside property to make any development unprofitable. The community is not entitled to enjoy someone else’s open space. But the Register thinks it is just dandy for the city to rezone property to higher density to make instant profit for an investor-buyer, even though the ensuing traffic and congestion, and potentially stress on sewer and water infrastructure can reduce the value of adjacent property and make it unlivable. As long as the rezoning doesn’t involve city subsidies or eminent domain, and the rezoning does not pose health and safety problems, the Register supports high density. If rezoning makes it unlivable for adjacent residents, or chases away customers for adjacent mom and pop businesses, tough. Apparently, if you don’t like it, move. That seems to be the response of the Register. But if eminent domain is involved, the paper rightfully contends a homeowner who doesn’t want to move should not be forced out so the city can give the property to a developer. Allan Pilger |
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