Canyon Trails
by jim sill
Olive Hill residents just slipped in under the umbrella of improved streets, drainage and an improved water delivery system right before the season's first rainfall which was a dilly: 8.25 inches of rain was recorded at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary for Saturday, December 6. That was the most canyon rainfall to fall in a single day in recent memory.
Although the actual work began in the early '90s, the basis for it began in 1982 when Olive Hill Property Owners Association president Dean Brown had the canyons declared a Housing & Community Development Target Area which made the area eligible for community block grants under the 1974 Federal Block Grant Program. Designation as a federal target area also makes low interest loans available to homeowners who meet county criteria and want to renovate their homes.
The original intent was to "re-pave Olive Hill from top to bottom," according to Brown in a recent interview. Then the project grew like...well, a typical canyon project does: as long as the streets were going to be dug up, why not add new water lines? And new fire hydrants. And while they were at it, drainage needed to be addressed so that the streets would act as swales channeling the water directly into Santiago Creek. A few years and $125,000 later, work was completed. The water district also contributed funds for the project.
In a small community, one person can make a big difference.
Brown, a 23 year canyon resident until recently, has long been active in improving the canyons. While he presided over the Sil-Mod Recreation and Parks District, the Silverado Children's Center was conceived and built for nearly $500,000 in block grant funds and other monies. That included the left-turn pockets for both the Children's Center and Silverado Elementary School. He also oversaw the left turn pocket into Williams Canyon.
Additional block grant money has been used to improve Silverado and Modjeska community centers, and for new paved roads, water systems and hydrants in Silverado Canyon. The water district has also taken advantage of the block grant program, and has received monies to improve canyon water quality.
Some Trabuco Canyon residents were also interested in improving their streets and building a community center using this grant program. However, local opposition prevented it. When money was obtained to pave Trabuco Oaks roadways, some local residents were concerned that the asphalt wouldn't be rural enough. Nearly $130,000 was obtained for a new community center in Trabuco Canyon, but local residents balked at a $10.00/year tax to maintain it, and twice defeated the measure in close votes.
All tolled, Brown has been responsible for bringing in over $1,000,000 in block grant monies that have improved both safety and infrastructure in these canyons.
Commercial Center Across from Cooks Corner Approved
Amid never-ending controversy, Orange County supervisors unanimously approved a commercial center opposite Cooks Corner across Live Oak Canyon Road. The land had originally been designated for residential use but Laguna Niguel developer Ken France convinced the supervisors that not many people would pay to live across the road from a raucous biker bar.
Of more concern to canyon residents is the apparent desire by some bureaucrats on the County's planning commission and a couple of out-of-district supervisors to gut the Trabuco Specific Plan to permit more development and building, both of which yield permit and additional tax money for the county. While the commercial center continues to be debated, the developers of Saddleback Meadows are watching these developments carefully. Gutting of the plan would likely make it easier for them to install their 705 mobile homes on their land sometimes referred to as Avalanche Acres, an area prone to slides. The owner of Cooks Corner is also anxious to develop his site, and continue his grading (Do you suppose he has a permit for all that grading?).
The only thing for certain is that Trabuco resident Ray Chandos will litigate. So don't figure on filling up your car at the proposed gas station anytime soon.
Commentary
I've run into some older residents and others in the canyons who like the idea of a commercial center across from Cooks Corner. And even more people who are opposed. But of most concern is the planning commission's willingness to re-open the Trabuco Specific Plan for amendments. The Plan resulted from endless meetings that went on for nearly five years. Even with the Plan, Trabuco Canyon has been irrevocably altered from its original bucolic beauty, to seas of ticky-tacky pink stucco and red tile. If they succeed in gutting Trabuco's plan, can the Sil-Mod plan be far behind? While what's left of Orange County's flatlands slips beneath asphalt and concrete, developers and their county lapdogs look longingly at our canyons. They can look. But they better not try to touch.
Modjeska Residents Assc. to Distribute Questionnaire
A canyon-wide questionnaire will be fine-tuned, then distributed by the MRA. It's a way of updating who we are, determining what we want and what we're willing to do to get it.
Come to the next MRA meeting on Sunday, January 4 at 3:00 p.m. Attendees will be asked for input regarding the questionnaire before it is refined and distributed.The Modjeska Residents Association meets on the first Sunday of the month at 3:00 p.m. in the Modjeska Community Center. All residents are welcome. We are a small community, and in a small community the right person or idea can make a big difference.
On behalf of the MRA, enjoy the holidays, your family and the unique canyon lifestyle that we all share.
New Modjeska Water Tank Progresses (Sort of)
Planning for a new 1.4 million gallon water tank slated to replace the existing 250,000 gallon tank above Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is moving along slower than Santiago County Water District directors would like but faster than ...uh, a glacier.
The planning and permitting process was proceeding well, considering all the agencies involved, when the U.S. Forest Service demanded changes to the Environmental Impact Report just 15 days before ratification. The timing of their objections appeared to coincide with complaints from canyon activists regarding the Forest Service's insistence that the gate at the end of Silverado Canyon remain open at all times, including during fire season. The water district is attempting to satisfy Forest Service objections, including giving the Forest Service 3.6 acres of contiguous land in Silverado in exchange for the acre of land needed for the new tank.
Other sites were studied by the water district in excruciating detail before they were rejected. The Forest Service has demanded an explanation of those details. Recently, however, they appear to be more cooperative--interest in having this project completed is becoming widespread and has attracted the attention of Representative Chris Cox.
The district has spent over six years working on this project. The tank will be located in approximately the same area as the existing tank. It will be hidden with a berm and replanted for nice aesthetics, and will provide additional water and water pressure for our canyon community particularly when needed during fire season.
Commentary
One would think that the Forest Service would do everything possible to accommodate our little canyon coimmunity that serves as its eyes and ears on territory over which it is woefully undermanned to properly manage.