Canyon Oaks Project Should Be Approved

* It is tragic that, after 15 years, the Canyon Oaks owners are still not permitted to build a legally conforming project on their privately owned land (“Board Puts Off Call on Luxury Project,” Feb. 10).

The further loss for us, as county citizens, is that this project would increase the tax revenue from this property from $100,000 to $2 million per year; millions more would be paid in school and other fees; thousands of work hours would be generated during construction, and about 250 permanent jobs would result.

Alexander Cockburn alleged in a Feb. 3 column that two supervisors were beholden to this project through campaign contributions. I hope Mr. Cockburn does not presume us ignorant of the political and monetary power wielded over certain politicians by various environmental groups.

No one these days is naive enough to believe elections can be won without major contributors (e.g., Zev Yaroslavsky has reported amassing $700,000 from various interest groups--including developers--to run for county supervisor against an opponent whose only chance would be a victory by default). What matters is not who makes a contribution but whether it results in an official voting contrary to personal convictions and/or to the detriment of the constituency.

County Supervisors Deane Dana and Michael Antonovich consistently vote for any building project that complies with county laws and benefits the community. They encourage development because without it, we have plummeted into an 11% unemployment rate. Supervisors Yvonne Burke and Gloria Molina should remember that when the eastern and central portions of this county voted for Proposition A for “safer parks,” they did not have in mind the confiscation of the Santa Monica Mountains and the rejection of employment opportunities.

Assemblyman Terry Friedman, proclaiming that Canyon Oaks should sacrifice its private property rights for the “common good,” and Tom Hayden and his wilting “flower children” colleagues should look around. The San Fernando Valley is no longer a bed of roses! Failure to approve the Canyon Oaks project will be the kiss of death to attracting badly needed investors to this area in the future.

The designer of Canyon Oaks has acted in good faith. He has satisfied all county and Santa Monica area plan requirements. He is proposing less density than surrounding residential communities. He has designed a golf course uniquely contoured around the natural topography. Canyon Oaks should be approved because it is good and because it complies with the law.

PHYLLIS M. DAUGHERTY

Los Angeles