Council decided right on Fairview Park

Jan D. Vandersloot

The Costa Mesa City Council made the right decision in removing

the intensive uses of Fairview Park east of Placentia from the

Fairview Park Master Plan.

While the model railroad has been a permitted use for many years,

it has a relatively low impact on the sensitive biological resources

on the east side of Placentia compared to the other proposed uses,

and rare birds such as the burrowing owl have been able to coexist

with it. Indeed, sighting the owl has been pointed out by the

railroad engineers to their passengers during the train trips,

serving an educational experience to the thousands of railroad

visitors, especially children, every year. This is why the Department

of Fish and Game has conditionally approved the railroad expansion,

while disapproving the more intrusive, high-impact uses, which were

removed from the master plan on Nov. 18.

While the burrowing owl may not be an endangered species

statewide, it is rapidly becoming extinct in Orange County due to the

intense pressure of development and the loss of its habitat over the

years.

Fairview Park, at some 200 acres, is a masterpiece, a precious

natural resource that is appreciated by the many people who stood up

at the Costa Mesa City Council meeting last Monday in support of

leaving the park as it is. The biologic resources of the east side

are only recently being identified. Leaving it alone and restoring

the natural habitats that are already there is the proper course to

take for the Costa Mesa City Council.

The Costa Mesa City Council did the right thing. The council

members should be commended for their foresight in not only spending

the money to buy Fairview Park, but to maintain it and restore it in

its natural state, for future generations to enjoy and appreciate its

considerable natural assets.

* Jan D. Vandersloot is a Newport Beach resident.