From Our Readers
Peninsula News – Thursday, June 14, 2007

Putting it in perspective

To the Editor:

    Two historical events seem to be forgotten or misunderstood. The first is Rolling Hills Estates' position in early 1970, when annexation 24 was terminated. It was then that the residents of RHE were concerned by the fact that Annexation 24 would not be composed of horse owners. This meant that the desire to keep RHE a horse community could be in jeopardy.

    Once the majority of voters who were not homeowners felt they wanted to change the city, they could elect a majority and change the ordinances that protect the horse owners. Under the Village Plan, with its potential population and focus on the village, the majority might feel some of the city's funds could be better used for their benefit rather than the horse owners.

    The second bit of history is the concern about the traffic impact of the hotel on the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes. Let's recall that when RPV was incorporated, Marineland was on the site. The traffic for that was much more than what a hotel will generate. Further, because of the incorporation of RPV, the projected high-rise buildings planned for the coast were never built. RPV had approximately 42,000-plus residents at the time. Some 34 years later, the population has grown to only 43,000-plus. That's only about a 1,000-person increase. With the units planned for the village, with two occupants, at a minimum for the units, that's about 1,000. All this is a much shorter time than 34 years.

I hope this puts a perspective on the Village Plan not heretofore considered.

Ken Dyda
Rancho Palos Verdes