YOUR support is CRUCIAL!

Do you know the pitfalls of developing the West Coyote Hills, the last remaining open space in North Orange County? Do you know that adding 760 new homes on this 510 acres of open space will increase traffic, increase the overcrowding of our schools, increase air and noise pollution, and destroy native habitat for endangered species? Do you know that this development will affect your quality of life on a daily basis? You can have an impact on this important city issue.

This issue will not go away quietly or quickly. This is not just an issue for a small group of volunteers, but an issue for the future of Fullerton and all of its neighboring cities. This is your issue, and the Fullerton City Council needs to hear this loud and clear.

The Friends of Coyote Hills hear your concerns every day from comments to our website, at community meetings, on hikes, by requests for signs, and through your generous donations. We have also collected over 4000 of YOUR signatures!

Your support has been overwhelming, and we thank all of YOU for doing what you can to save the hills. But we can’t stop now! Your action on this issue is crucial; time is running out!

Time is CRITICAL!

The Draft Environmental Report (DEIR) for this project came out in October. The City approved an extension of the review period and the deadline for public comments is now 5 pm, Dec. 1^st. The City Council will vote on rezoning and approval of the proposed project at a hearing in January, 2004.Comments made to the Council ANYTIME before the final hearing could influence how they vote! The City Council is elected to represent YOU! Let them know your concerns NOW!

Friends of Coyote Hills wants to thank all of you for supporting the vision of preserving Coyote Hills as a park and nature preserve, and keeping the rural character of Fullerton.

Together we can save our city from the ills of urban sprawl and enjoy the serenity and peace of mind found in natural open spaces.

What You Can Do Now: Speak at city council meetings during public comment time. It only takes 3 minutes! Write or e-mail City Council members with your views. See page 3 for contact information. Talk to your neighbors and friends about this important issue and urge them to take action! Visit www.coyotehills.org for information and updates on meetings and events. Attend the West Coyote Hills public hearings to be held in January, 2004, and make your presence known. Donations are always helpful!!

Can We Really Trust Chevron to Clean Up Their Mess?

Chevron’s proposed plan for the development of West Coyote Hills, as documented in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), is full of promises to comply with the law in several areas such as oil and hazardous material cleanup. However, the EIR does not have any details to back up those promises. At the 10/20/03 Community Meeting on West Coyote Hills, Chevron promised a cleanup plan to be submitted at a later date, presumably after the project has been decided on by the city.

The Friends of Coyote Hills are concerned about the omission of such important information for public inspection and commenting as part of the process required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Should we entrust our long-term health and safety to Chevron? You be the judge.

The following information was published by Project Underground, a non-profit organization based in Oakland, CA. Because this list is so long, we are only able to publish a small portion of the information here. For the full article, please go to www.moles.org.

In 1997, residents of Kennedy Heights, Texas, sued Chevron for contaminating their drinking water and causing wide-spread illness. Chevron allegedly left behind oil, sludge, and carcinogenic chemicals. The contaminants (which include known carcinogens), are claimed to be the cause of many of the residents' illnesses, including high rates of cancer, lupus and other diseases.

In 1991, Chevron agreed to pay more than $200,000 in fines to settle a lawsuit by the Orange County District Attorney's office after the company allegedly failed to obey state laws governing underground fuel tanks at 57 gas stations.

In January 1989 Chevron paid $450,000 in civil penalties and $100,000 in investigatory costs to the State of California for violating the state hazardous-waste-handling regulations in its Richmond refinery.

In addition, to the above, the LA Times reported in October, 2003, Chevron settled a lawsuit by the Federal government over air pollution violations. The suit alleged that the company failed to immediately notify local authorities when its El Segundo plant malfunctioned and released "extremely hazardous substances" into the air.

With this environmental record, it is no wonder the City has taken measures to have Chevron guarantee that the City will not be liable for any claims or lawsuits resulting from inadequate cleanup.

Tough Questions & Answers

Q: Where is there money to purchase West Coyote Hills for a park?

A: Funds are available through Propositions 40 and 50 and mitigation of other building sites. Bond money may not be easy to find, but not all of it’s spoken for yet. Another way to save the land is through “mitigation”; this is where a developer with a smaller amount of coastal sage scrub trades building homes for saving the land elsewhere. Our City Council should take a leadership role in looking for funds for land acquisition. Gary Watts, Superintendent for State Parks for Southern California Region, indicated, during a meeting in June, that if the City of Fullerton wants State Parks to become involved with West Coyote Hills acquisition they will get involved.

Chevron, instead of dropping hints that they might negotiate, can begin by opening the land for a fair appraisal. Our city council needs to hold off rezoning, and we, the people need to keep the pressure on!Q: Wouldn’t the city violate Chevron’s property rights if Coyote Hills is saved for a park and nature preserve?

A: It is Chevron’s land, but zoning laws limit what can and cannot be built. Coyote Hills is now zoned for oil and gas. Chevron wants it rezoned as residential. What was written in the city’s General Plan years ago is forever changed by the addition of many other development sites, such as Amerige Heights, that were never envisioned. Our City can refuse a zoning change. While Chevron deserves a fair price for their land, nothing guarantees that they can build homes on it.Q: I’ve heard it’s a done deal.

A: It is NOT a “done deal”. In the absence of the City Council approving the zoning change the development cannot take place.Q: Won’t the city miss all the tax revenue?

A: The Fiscal Impact Report estimates that the most the city will net each year from the development is $307,520 or about $2.38 per year for every person in the city of Fullerton. This is only an estimate, based on economic conditions in 2002. Is $2.38 worth the negative impact this development will have to our quality of life? w32

Community Comments From the FCH Website Guest Book:

“This new Fullerton with houses being built everywhere is very disturbing. I worry about over-crowded schools, more traffic, noise and pollution and a lack of open spaces. I not only hope, but also pray, that The Friends of Coyote Hills are successful in stopping the development . . .”

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“What makes the North Orange County communities of Fullerton, Brea and Yorba Linda so desirable is the mix of urban amenities along side unadulterated natural settings. Further development threatens to destroy this balance . . .”

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“. . . I first moved here 31 years ago. Fullerton is a beautiful city. Let's keep it that way. No more building! Please keep our remaining open space.”

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“I will vote out any Council member that does not actively work to save this piece of land. I used to go up in those hills as a kid, save this area for our future kids to see.”

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“I hope that the houses will not be built, since the City of Fullerton cannot handle it. Look at the existing traffic on Rosecrans and Euclid, or Rosecrans and Beach! Not to mention things like the possibility of overcrowding of schools.”

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“I believe the people who started to protect Coyote Hills are Fullerton heroes. I hope with a concerted effort of Fullerton residents/law makers and the environmental experts, we can save Coyote Hills.”

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“To quote Fullerton's own General Plan: ‘Areas offering extraordinary natural characteristics should be preserved and significant historical and cultural landmarks should be protected . . .’”

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“I've lived in Orange County over fifty years and have seen over development destroy the character of this area. Keep up the fight!”

 

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“My family and myself are looking to relocate to Fullerton. One of the main attractions to the city is the hills and hiking trails. It saddens me to think that soon it could be occupied by yet "more" tract homes. I sincerely hope that Chevron will put a stop to the nonsense.”

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Click here to read more comments

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December 1^st is the Deadline to Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Report!

To see the entire text of the DEIR, go to www.ci.fullerton.ca.us and select “West Coyote Hills Specific Plan”, and “Reports.” To see highlights of the DEIR go to www.coyotehills.org and select “Make Comments to City on DEIR Statement.”

Tell the city what YOU think!

Your voice counts! You got the City to extend the DEIR review period and delay the hearings to 2004. Let them know you don't want West Coyote Hills developed. Don't let them change the zoning. All of West Coyote Hills should be saved as a preserve

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Email All of the City Council members at once at the following address: Council@ci.fullerton.ca.us City Planner: Joel Rosen:JoelR@ci.fullerton.ca.us	Speak The next Fullerton City Council meeting is scheduled for: December 2, 2003 Afternoon session: 4:00 p.m. Evening session: 7:30 p.m. January , 2004 Watch for dates and times to be announced for public hearings.
Write City Council Members: 303 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832

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Senator Dunn Pledges Support for Coyote Hills

Senator Joseph Dunn toured West Coyote Hills September 26^th with supporters of Save Coyote Hills. After the hike, Senator Dunn offered to assist in the preservation of West Coyote Hills by writing a letter of support and more.

Senator Joseph Dunn (center) is accompanied on a hike by Friends of Coyote Hills - Helen Higgins (left) and Ellis Cha (right).

 Important Dates to Remember:

December 1 - Deadline to send comments on DEIR to City Hall

December 2 - City Council meeting

December 8 - Friends of Coyote Hills
community meeting

January 2004 - Public Hearings, dates and times to be announced.

© Copyright 2007 by CoyoteHills.org

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