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This memorial statue to the Franciscan priest Father who know Perro Serra here at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. It is a testament to the entry of the first entry of Europeans to southern Orange County. Well over two hundred years ago back in 1769. Supported as it was by the mounted guns of 67 Spanish soldiers. This religious crusade. Really was a clash of two cultures. The European and the Native American. So this statue of the Franciscan and this mission here at San Juan marked not so much the beginning of Orange County history. As a major change. It marks the introduction of a curious new concept a modern one that sees the future as something to be conquered. The land as something to be used. It's a notion we call progress. In less than a hundred years the Spanish and Mexican governments are divided up most of the land that would

soon make up the political entity of Orange County. Horses and cattle became the major industry. Indians sought employment on the Ranchos as Waqar us are cowboys. Gradually the area south of Los Angeles began to take on the semblance of something called civilization. In one thousand fifty seven fifty German immigrants paid seven hundred fifty dollars each to join a planned community called Anaheim trust in Santa Ana in orange soon followed by 1889 when Orange County became a political entity to itself severing its ties with Los Angeles County. The character of the land had changed entirely. By now the principal economy was agriculture and the main crop was the Valencia orange. With the establishment of the county seat in Santa Ana business and industry tended to concentrate close to

the center of power. In the south part of Orange County. The towns of Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano were seen as isolated outposts artistic and religious retreats from an increasingly crowded world. Then with the close of World War Two there was the quiet explosion of a population bomb almost overnight. North Orange County became a suburb of Los Angeles as small houses like these went up by the thousands. Progress became synonymous with growth from one hundred thirty thousand people in one thousand forty Orange County grew to 1.7 million in 1076. This is the Newport freeway. A dividing line that cuts the county pretty much in half. Most of the county's growth up until 1960 took place on the north side of the freeway. In North County. But then in the 60s as North Orange County

became metropolitan ised and industrialized developers began to see South County as a potential new suburb of North County. So the building began all over again only this time there was more planning. Communities like Irvine and Mission Viejo were created to accommodate the tastes of a steadily growing upper middle class prime agricultural land slowly gave way to housing tracts where the average price for a new home was eighty or ninety thousand dollars. This is resulted in two vastly different areas of Orange County and older more densely populated county north of the Newport freeway and a newer richer and increasingly more white Anglo-Saxon Orange County south of the Newport freeway. These differences in North and South County pose a series of interesting and in many ways disturbing questions for the future. For instance one of the social political and

economic implications of pouring more and more concrete and asphalt over prime agricultural land. How can a rapidly developing south Orange County escape the problems of pollution and overcrowding and with the cost of an average single family home in Orange County at one hundred seven thousand dollars up from eighty one thousand just nine months ago. How can this area possibly avoid becoming an exclusive bastion for the white upper middle class. Yes I think if we get more difficult as these questions may be they fall with increasing frequency on the shoulders of one man. Orange County chairman of the Board of Supervisors Tom Riley a retired Marine Corps general appointed to the board by ex governor Ronald Reagan in one thousand seventy five. Riley admits to having no political experience and admits further to dislike many of the things that go with being a politician. A quiet spoken man who prefers harmony and gentlemanly agreement to harsh political

infighting. Riley has been widely criticized for being too soft or not willing to fight for issues and ideas. But Riley counters that his style is that of a peacemaker and that just because it happens to be different than most politicians it isn't necessarily any of us effective. Perhaps the major irony about Tom Wiley is that while he professes to hate asking for political donations necessary for running a campaign he raised and spent more than two hundred twenty five thousand dollars in the last election. More money than any other supervisor in the history of Orange County. Most of this money came from housing developers which means that they'll be expecting Riley support when pushing for more housing in south county. But if Ronnie wants to remain his own man and avoid being labeled a political puppet he'll have to walk a delicate balance between two opposing forces. One is the steadily increasing pressure for more housing. The other is a recently critical demand for open space and the kind of low intensity land

use provided by agriculture. Has come almost a full cycle in Orange County for the 60 years following its formation as an independent county in 1889. Agriculture reigned supreme.

Anaheim was the wine capital of the state. Del Toro the drive capital of the world and even Santa Ana was the world's largest shipping. But it's an entirely different story. Where there were once more than 65000 acres of Valencia oranges just like today. Less than 7000 remaining in Orange County this county that like this are being squeezed out of the county as are the farmers. And pretty soon. It will be. In Orange County. Probably the biggest problem was another crop that was introduced in the 1950s probably the biggest growth crop ever. Houses. And today Time is running out for Orange County Farmers because the best agricultural land. Is being converted. To urban uses.

In the last 20 years agricultural acreage in Orange County has dropped from 130000 acres to 43000 acres today. And last year alone 9000 more acres were lost to agricultural production forever. But you may be wondering how significant those facts are. Two months ago the agricultural preservation task force made this report to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and it states quite bluntly that while compared to national agricultural output and counties contribution is not very significant that in the field of specialty crop production we do play a significant role. Last year 19 different crops from nursery stock and strawberries to beans and cucumber has brought in over one hundred fifty three million dollars in gross sales. And in 1975 Orange County ranks second statewide in nursery products third in strawberry production fourth in avocados and asparagus and fifth in celery.

Unfortunately for agriculture gross sales figures do not tell the whole story. Rising land values brought up prices and most of all high property taxes are forcing farmers out of the county. As the agricultural preservation taskforce put it without a preservation program agriculture as a commercial enterprise will almost disappear from Orange County during the 1990s. People who are interested in agricultural preservation are watching South County the Irvine ranch Mission Viejo ranch and smaller farms like this. In particular they're watching the city of San Juan Capistrano because Rob the county of Orange is talking about agricultural preservation. The city of San Juan last April 12th initiated its own agricultural preservation plan. Very simply it took 230 acres of prime agricultural land and rezoned from residential to agricultural. Now that could mean a tremendous financial loss to the farmers that own the land because of their resale value has probably dropped about

$50000 per acre. But the effect of that zoning is yet to be seen. And this is the commercial ranch which 60 acres together with those of a neighbor comprises the 100 acres which is the center of the San Juan Capistrano agricultural preserve. Your friends who are farmers have moved away in past years. Why did you remain. Well we remain here because. We like to hear our family. All my brother and myself were married. And settled down here raised families and we've been here. Almost 20 years or. Kids are going through the school system into a nice place to live in. I believe that this is our last stand of the word. Once this plan does get for me more will just hang up. Hang up the hole I guess. Sun is taking our culture hard to culture and high school do you expect him to be a farmer. Why stick Horcoff in junior high. I will not

press him or direct him I just let him go his own way and knowing what the problems are negligee Will Find Out Of course what that is and let him make his own decision but I don't encourage him no. Pressure on agriculture in south county comes very clearly from developers who want to build on the land. Is that pressure powerful. Paul I would think not as a matter of fact your question is very timely since this morning one of the major items that we have on the agenda is a discussion of the report of the agricultural preservation taskforce journey I believe and I believe most of the board members believe that this is a. Valuable natural resource if we have to do something about. It's a complicated answer to try to respond I know in the time that you and I have but I look forward to the need of this board and perhaps other legislative bodies to definitely make some commitments torch preservation and land development pressure is not all powerful why then last

week did the board vote over the objections of the Planning Commission to build a new shopping center and Al Gore wanted their planning commission said clearly that it would only add to traffic congestion and decrease agricultural policy. That certainly is a good question and I'm so glad you answered ask it because I know it's had some concern from folks. The real reason was that this decision had been made when the land was. A couple of years ago we went through that the road system for that particular area and all had been a part of the approval of two other adjacent pieces of property that was a time when there'd been a donation of land for the library and actually how it ever got or was needed to take second action. I don't know why that decision had been. While the south counties possed play with its use of this land for agriculture

so too will its future lie with these thousands of acres of open land. The forces that will shape change this land are enormously complex but fundamentally they revolve around the concept of private property. It's a principle deeply embedded in the American consciousness perhaps even more so here in the West where certain frontier spirit still prevails a spirit that says this is my land I'll do with it as I will. But more and more we're apt to say this is our land and we say it. Our county government the residents the cities the school districts districts the state of California the Agriculture Department the Coastal Commission the Department of Defense the Army Corps of Engineers environmental groups the land holders and of course the

developers they will act in the process in different ways. To the layman at least they never seem to agree. The reason would be simple. They each have a different idea of what the issues are what plants those issues dictate. Doug Nash is a former mayor of San Juan Capistrano is a member of the Association of San Juan Capistrano. He has come out strongly for limited growth. Randy precisely of the princely company has a large developer in the south county. He sees a need for growth. All the major issues I see them facing south Orange County are land use population growth and resource preservation. These three things are all tied together. By virtue of the fact that so many people want to move into Orange County to live. And this puts a tremendous pressure on the preservation of these resources. And that's really what people are concerned about these days and what has produced the kind of politics that we see in this area.

But I believe the major issue to be primarily that sorry due diligence is both a state and federal level are attempting to dictate the growth promises to nuclear issues. You have. Created a shortage of housing through moratoriums own sewer and water and just the general no growth syndrome that we've experienced in the last few years. Several years ago for example the environmentalist stated that they would control growth through taking over the sewer and water districts and they've managed to do that pretty well. So if the issue boils down to a balance between controlled and limited land use and growth as the developers would like to see it. In these factories would become of the forces that shape their general plan for the area. El Faro is manager of the county's general planning division.

David. The history of long range planning in Southeast Orange County really goes back about 15 16 years. At that time the county did not have the resources to plan all at once so an area by area approach was taken. And plans were. Proposed for segments of the county. Most of the planning was in reaction to a plan submitted by private landowners or developers although the county did initiate some area plans itself. Finally 973 all of these plans were consolidated into the land use element of the county general plan as required by state law. And a very little new thinking was injected at that time in the preparation of the plan it was merely a consolidation of plans that had been developed at that time. I think what has to be done in south county is exactly what has been done in San Juan Capistrano in the last three years and that is people getting together on a political

basis. And formulating a political direction and using the processes that are available to them to cause their government agencies to do the necessary planning to make the necessary provisions for future development in the area. What has to happen in South County. And I believe the first thing that has to happen is that our local politicians have to become angry enough with having their power is taken away by state and federal levels. Then they will try and bring about an end to this. This is just taking place in Colorado were the land use Management Agency of the state was voted out because the local politicians was angry with having their authority taken away from them. Both Doug Nash and Randy Presley would like to see their plans for South Orange

County's future put into effect. And the way they're going to try to do it is probably the only way possible by putting pressure on the political process. Most specifically the board of supervisors but from a planning commission are surely Grendel thinks that the dice are loaded. I don't think it's a question about that I think the guy star. Had been for the last five or six years and Favre at the development industry. Why do you say that. Well there is said direct connection which exists in this county between campaign funds and for county supervisors and land use decisions and supervisors campaigns are funded by developers and some others who need approval of their land use projects by those same supervisors whose campaigns they are financing. And it should be obvious. Then that no supervisor is really able to make decisions on land use which might jeopardize those campaign funds. And as a result many decisions

are made nowadays which are not in the fast interest of the public as a whole but which are favorable to the immediate needs of the development industry. Let's switch to that. Because a good tribute to the man who put it who to the Planning Commission and I have yet to see would have a book your favorite. Robert Dunham is an economist. He doesn't deal in sentiment or sensibility it deals with statistics. Well when he got his growth rate has been one of the greatest of all counties in the United States during the last 20 years. In looking between now and 1990 we're estimating it will be about 3 percent a year. The population now is about a million age and we're forecasting it will be 2 million 7 by 1990 which would average about 3 percent a year. What are some of the costs. For example in the housing V by 1990 Well at the rate we're going they're going to be astronomical. The average single family home now is priced at around one hundred seven

thousand new home. If this were to increase at the rate of 10 percent a year by 1990 it would be 300 70000 and that's just within 13 years our average income in the southeast of the county is a little over 900000. And at the same rate that would be up to sixty seven thousand five hundred and thirteen years. So the numbers really seem astronomical but those are probably if anything a little conservative because housing during the last year has been rising at a rate of 3 to 4 percent a month. A former mayor of San Juan Capistrano Doug Nash was quoted recently as saying with some pride that South Orange County would become the bel air of Orange County. Many people would say what's wrong with that. Well nothing if you believe that this land is here for building for building whatever the landholders developers want which is mostly profit. If on the other hand you believe that this large area of developable land

should be a good cross-section of the residents of the county then you know that another bill that is beyond the reach of most of us. This is the danger facing south county. The creation of an affluent high priced for the few effectively cutting out a large cross section of Orange County's population to widen the gap between those that have and those who do not. General should government take action that would ensure the ability of people from all economic levels to live in south county. I think that there should be an opportunity for people of all economic levels to live in south county in other words and unless we can buy or some other assistance cause that to happen I think government may have to step in a more drastic means do it your critics often argue that there's no real general plan for South County that it's only a paper plan one that's constantly being amended.

And in favor of development interests. What about that. Well Paula I certainly would have to admit that the land use plan by law can be met amended three times a year. And it's a very difficult process. I would certainly not suggest that we don't take you seriously all of the needs or requirements of making those changes. You know in this plan we came up with a monitoring system to ensure that they were going over there was going to be traffic circulation acceptable. Pollution water and these type of things. I don't find this development interests run the county. No you're from absolutely no. This is the main avenue that leads into South Orange County home of the

good life. Now many say that this doesn't necessarily reflect tomorrow's South County. Too many of the dangerous signs points towards this conclusion that a wealthy lead will insulate itself from the outside world in a sense. They will segregate themselves of course by doing so they will segregate others. These adobe houses have been here for one hundred fifty years. These residents and others like them will become less and less able to afford to live here. The future residents of south county will be paying more of a price for living here than the dollar value of their homes. They will pay the price of destroying the once unique makeup of this area which housed people of various ethnic and income groups. While there have always been wealthy neighborhoods in any given city never has one been as vast and as isolated as the South County residential area. The great wealth of

this country has always been its people. People of all backgrounds new ideas a melting pot of differences resulting in a unity. This formula in its full strength is vanishing from South Orange County. If you can afford to live here those that can are exclusively rich and predominantly white. If growth and development places the lower and middle income residents on the endangered list in south county what will become of those who remain. This is the other price to future residents will pay. A society where their children grow up without the experience of knowing people of other cultures. That's the current development trend continues in our county for the next 10 to 15 years. We really have two counties will have a county on the north side of the Newport freeway which will be predominantly upper working class with a growing Spanish speaking population with a Spanish surname population

and a southern Irish County which will be predominantly high income white small families. Q status making it look like two different places. Well I think we'll I guess as a resident who had has lived here so many generations such as other people have in the area I feel that in time since that development is going around and prices will be rising so high that he eventually many of the people in the area will not be able to afford say to live here. How long have you lived here I have lived here 15 years. You were born here. I was born here. What about your family. My family was here since 61 52 right here in this problem. High elsewhere

places too where they can find places that are more within the. Memorials to change. But change hasn't always brought progress especially when we see what is happening to south county. It has become a fact. It is something we strive for but like everything good it can be bad. Progress for a select few. It is a reality but we have to ask Isn't this change. Contrary to every principle which our country was founded.