The Buzz column, June 8

Where’s the latest target for new housing in Mission Viejo? Casta del Sol residents should take note it’s the golf course next door. No, it’s not the property in the gulch behind the Nadadores swim club. The new site is on the other side of the driveway to Casta’s Gate No. 1.

***

Question from a blog reader: “Who is paying for the grading near Capo USD’s administration building in San Juan Capistrano?” As good news, CUSD taxpayers are not paying for it. According to an article in The Capistrano Dispatch, the grading is taking place above Valle Road as part of a developer’s (SunCal) mix of 416 homes and a retail center. The grading also includes cutting back the slope to widen Valle Road.

***

Mission Viejo residents said goodbye to one of the city’s founders, Norman P. Murray, at a June 5 memorial. More than 150 people attended the service at Presbyterian Church of the Master at Oso and Marguerite. Along with members of the Murray family, former city mayor Bob Breton spoke at the service. Breton summarized Murray’s many civic accomplishments and examples of community service to Mission Viejo. The church service was followed by a reception at the Elks Lodge.

***

After Murray’s memorial service, two blog readers reported their observations at the Elks. One said, “Trish Kelley showed up, wearing her name badge (‘Hi! I’m Trish Kelley, Mission Viejo City Council’) and working the room as if she were campaigning for office. This was a funeral, and she was going around to each table politicking.” Another who attended said, “It was mostly Norm’s family at the Elks, and we were trying to focus on their loss. I’m still wondering what Trish Kelley was doing there.”

***

Mission Viejo residents haven’t forgotten Council Members Kelley, Lance MacLean and Bill Craycraft ended Murray’s service on the Planning Commission by voting not to extend his term. Kelley later explained her vote, saying other residents wanted a chance to be appointed to commissions. Meanwhile, her own appointee to the Community Services Commission, Patty Bennett, has held the post ever since Ms. Kelley’s first election. Apparently, Ms. Kelley’s rules apply only to other council members’ appointees. After Commissioners Murray and Jack Anderson were removed from the commission, a majority of novices took over and reversed prior decisions. Steadfast and UDR/Pacific’s housing projects had previously been unanimously rejected, and Murray had wisely voted against both of them.

***

Residents who can read the microscopic print in Saddleback Valley News’ Public Notices may have seen two paid city announcements in the June 8 issue. Two hearings will be held during the June 18 council meeting. Both hearings involve microwave antennas on city property. The first is an appeal regarding microwave antennas in Florence Joyner Park, 22761 Olympiad Road. The second is with regard to antennas proposed for the Potocki Center, 27301 La Paz Road.