Three years ago, in 2012,
thousands of Fullertonians (myself included) voted down the Chevron
Corporation's plan to develop Coyote Hills, one of the last large
natural open spaces in north Orange County. This, we
thought, was a major victory. We thought we'd actually saved Coyote
Hills. We were naïve.
In fact, Coyote Hills has not
been saved. In direct defiance of the will of the voters, Chevron and
the city have continued to negotiate a new development plan. Last month
(again, in defiance of the will of the people),
the Fullerton Planning Commission approved Chevron's new development
plan--a slightly modified version of the original.
For those of us who believe
in democracy, this is a baffling and disturbing state of affairs.
Apparently, a popular vote means nothing. What really matters is money
and a cunning team of lawyers--which Chevron has.
And so, it seems, we are
basically back where we started. Tonight, the Fullerton City Council
will hear an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision brought by the
Friends of Coyote Hills. The city council could
approve the new development plan tonight.
I, for one, will be at the
meeting tonight at City Hall at 6:30pm, voicing my frustration and
anger. If you live in the area, or simply care about the environment,
please come, show your support, and speak up!
