Message from the Supervisor…….
I created SCORE (South County Outreach and Review Effort) roughly a year ago to allow for early input to the County's planning process as it pertained to the Rancho Mission Viejo Development in South Orange County.
When I unveiled the SCORE Process over a year ago-- December 5, 2001 to be exact -- I felt it was going to be an exciting opportunity and certainly a privilege to have a role in the planning process for this remarkable piece of land. I made a point of noting that it was comforting that Rancho Mission Viejo understood the value of master-planning the remainder of its property rather than looking at each planning area in a discreet and disconnected context. Today, I'm pleased to say the Ranch continues this commitment.
And, as to the planning, ultimately, as a County Supervisor representing the affected area, my responsibility is to hear from all interested parties; uphold the intent of Orange County's General Plan; establish a strong, viable, science-based nature reserve; and facilitate a process that results in the "best plan" for Orange County. And, as I've also noted before, I fully realize that the definition of "best plan" is up to interpretation and therein resides our collective challenge.
To make this happen, I met on several occasions with the cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, key interest group leaders and the Ranch to discuss how we could augment the current County process to provide opportunity for 5 basic components:
- early input - that is, prior to the beginning of the County's normal planning process
- increased community participation
- access to information
- independent review
- and dialog on issue solution options.
The result is SCORE - a process that allows for community based groups to roll up their sleeves, consider the planning issues related to the region and the property, and provide input to the Planning Department, to the members of the commission and to me during the shaping of the Environmental Impact Report.
Last July, with the help of our facilitator Daniel Icafano, I introduced the work of the Land Use and Urban Run-off Task Forces - which represented a broad range of folks with diverse interests and perspectives from within each of the adjacent communities.
These are folks with whom I had worked previously - or whose community efforts I valued. In the report you will notice an affiliation next to each name. This was done for you to get a sense of each member's perspectives on future development in the region and in their community. Many of them could have had numerous affiliations because these are active, involved individuals. But I want to emphasize that the task force members do not officially represent their affiliation.
Well, the Task Force came through for me. They met consistently for eight months and demonstrated to each other and to me that they were genuinely engaged, intellectually challenged and serious about making SCORE work.
Similarly, the Urban Run-Off Task Force members - some of the best and brightest minds in south county when it comes to water quality - have been on task and very focused. Their report is contained within this Phase 1 report.
I want to emphasize that SCORE is all about process. This report is about the broad spectrum of issues that necessarily be considered in this huge undertaking. It is NOT about any particular plan. This is because these plans are in a state of flux.
To help me illustrate this point, In an ironic turn, the Resource Agencies recently put 12 proposed NCCP/SAMP alternatives on their website - but you will notice that SCORE's report addresses only the 4 alternatives provided to us directly by the agencies in July.
Nevertheless, the report has value simply because it IS all about process. And, I believe you'll find the report makes some important points both in the performance objectives and the comments related to the criteria. It is this kind of information that I am convinced will open up the planning process and improve the ultimate product.
But, clearly, the resource agencies continue to refine the NCCP/SAMP alternatives. So, SCORE's commentary is not complete.
That is why we are referring to this report as "Phase 1" - Phase 2 will occur this year, as soon as we have the resource agencies' final reserve designs and the resulting land use alternatives. At that time, SCORE will reconvene and once again apply the criteria to these land use plans.
"We're not at the beginning of the end; we're at the end of the beginning."