Foothills Sentry Page 6 OCTOBER 2025 "Review" continued from page 1 no procedures in place to identify historic properties. A letter written by a law firm on behalf of OTPA notes that “the proposed ordinance would conflict with General Plan goals, policies and implementation measures adopted to ensure historic preservation, protection and enhancement of scenic resources, and to reduce adverse impacts throughout the city." It further states that to comply with the General Plan, the city must revise portions of its zoning code before, or at the same time, it enacts an ordinance limiting discretionary project review in favor of administrative approval. Details deferred The ordinance may also bypass CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), which requires a determination whether a project would "conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation (including the general plan, specific plans, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect." While the city fully intends to protect historic properties, the ordinance eliminates DRC review of projects in the rest of Orange. The DRC has, until now, studied development plans for projects citywide. It has been credited with calling out a two-story housing development slated to be built on a site with a one-story restriction, correctly identifying floor plans for “apartments” as student dormitories and asking a developer to rethink a surrounding 12-foot block wall adjacent to a residential neighborhood. We jilt this city “This is personal to me,” resident Laurie Sandoval told the commission. “I’ve lived here for 30 years. I appreciate the DRC’s insights and good questions. The city needs the DRC. Shortcutting makes Orange a less desirable place to live. The city consists of more than Old Towne.” Laura Thomas asked why the majority of Orange won’t be given the same review and expertise as Old Towne. “What about neighborhood compatibility? Council’s goals to streamline the process may be driven by financial circumstances, but this is a fix that may have unforeseen consequences.” “The DRC should be for all of Orange,” McCormick advised. “It provides a benefit to a lot of people.” Commissioner Martinez admitted that he “feels bad” that the DRC is being portrayed as bad guys, and that the committee “has been very helpful.” The planning commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the ordinance. McCormick dissented. The city council is slated to hear it Oct. 28. Stay alert! The past is never dead... The Sept. 2 Inter-Canyon League (ICL) meeting featured a short film screening introduced by History Committee member Scott Breeden. The group recently discovered a single reel of a Super-8 movie (with sound) documenting the 1975 Silverado Country Fair. Committee Chair Melody McWilliams digitized the movie, formerly stored at the old Silverado Library. In-person and online meeting attendees enjoyed watching the first 10 minutes of the 39-minute film, narrated by Bob Myers, Silverado resident Judy Myers's late husband. Judy reports that after 50 years she’d forgotten about the film, and that both she and Bob appear in it, along with several former and longtime current canyon residents. As introduced by Breeden, “The 1975 fair was held at the Community Center just like today, but the Center was a bit different. No Hunt Building, of course, and there was a barn-like structure approximately where the gazebo is now, plus remnants of the 1930s-era school surrounding the main building.” Scott notes, “The film captures a parade down Silverado Canyon to the Center, led by two patrol cars, a high school marching band and color guard, a flotilla of old cars from the Orange County Model T Club, local fire trucks, Forest Service trucks, Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl, horses, bikes and ‘Dolly Dingbat’ (Ann Gould in costume). Longtime Silverado businessman and school booster Tommy Beaulieu was Grand Marshal. And, of course, there was a mock gunfight, reportedly staged by Knott's Berry Farm actors.” Other highlights include Hawaiian dancers, baton twirlers, musicians, food and pottery vendors, the Grandmothers Club, a karate demonstration, a kids’ pieeating contest and 50-cent hot dogs. Fifty years later, ICL plans to screen the entire film several times at the Christmas Boutique during this year's fair. Fridge-a-dare Rich Pfeiffer offered helpful, if painfully acquired, insight and advice. Make it easy on firefighters and emergency services providers who might make an unscheduled visit to your canyon home. Photocopy personal, medical and emergency contact information and magnet it to your fridge. That’s where Station 14 and 16 volunteers and sheriffs look. Sure, it’s on your cell phone (congratulations on today’s steps, which ironically led to your fall) but that’s password-protected. Helpfully, your refrigerator door is not. In the zone Mary Schreiber of Fire Safe Council reminded all to sign up for AlertOC, the county's notification system. Register online for emergency messages sent to your home, cell or business phone. And email. And since we now officially live in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) — lucky us! — we’ll soon be responsible for complying with new, stricter (and lifesaving) defensible space requirements. Since the legislature passed AB3074 in 2020 and SB504 last year, the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is directed to establish an ember-resistant defensible “zone” defined as “the first five feet around a structure, referred to as Zone 0.” It’s your house, basically. Zone 1 extends from Zone 0 to 30 feet around a structure and deck or to the property line if less than 30 feet. All to reduce wildfire risk by minimizing flammable materials and maintaining vegetation to slow fire spread. … It’s not even past. This year’s Oct. 11-12 fair highlights include live music from classic bluegrass banjo-picking to classic rock, and Cubensis, the popular Grateful Dead cover band. Featured local canyon artists with work for sale include Alice Phillips of Silverado Glass Studio showing her elegant fused glass and sterling silver jewelry, fine art photographer Vivi Wyngaarden, and multi-form natureinspired artist Julie Williams. Buy local. Kids and families will enjoy the Franklin Haynes Marionettes at noon on Sunday. Join the fivegallon bucket drum circle both days and contests, including best beard and, apparently timeless, pie-eating. SMRPD Parks and Rec Board President Ted Wright laments the continuing funding struggle after county support was permanently cut by a third. “Alas, no free ice cream at summer concerts,” says Wright. “We hope to fundraise for hams and turkeys for the Thanksgiving meal traditionally provided at the Silverado Community Center. But both parks and community centers are open, and we kept them open as cooling centers during recent heat waves.” I’m with the banned This year’s Banned Books Week (Oct. 5-11) theme is “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Sponsored by the American Library Association and celebrated by Library of the Canyons, you can read freely or join the book group on Wednesday, Oct. 1 discussing "The Lost Tomb" by Douglas Preston. (US) P.S. It’s costly to mail this local independent community newspaper. If you’re reading this in the canyons, it’s because volunteers dropped copies in Silverado and Modjeska, including at the Library of the Canyons, or delivered to your front porch. You’re welcome! A massive structure under construction for the last five years was not subject to DRC review. Neighbors say it is not compatible with the rest of the homes on the quiet street in East Orange. BSA Troop 538 to hold open house Boy Scout Troop 538 invites the community to an open house, Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Canyon Hills Presbyterian Church, at 7 p.m. Founded in 1975, Troop 538 is a scout-led troop which offers opportunities in leadership, community involvement, activities, adventurous outings (campouts, backpacking and hikes), and learning essential life-skills. The troop is open to boys ages 11 and up and/or as early as 5th grade. It meets Tuesday nights at the Presbyterian Church in Anaheim Hills. The open house will allow families to learn more about the spirit of scouting and Troop 538. The church is located at 190 S. Fairmont Blvd. RSVP or email questions to troop538ahills@ gmail.com. To learn more about the troop, visit tinyurl.com/ Troop538AnaheimHills. Salem's new preschool opens Salem Lutheran Church & School celebrated 60 years of ministry with a ribbon-cutting, Sept. 7, to unveil the grand opening of its brand-new preschool. Pictured here, left to right, Director of Safety & Facilities Julie Beckman, Ministry Leadership Council President Matt Noel, Preschool Director Stacey Davis, Business Manager Craig Olson, Principal Corissa Sheets, with Pastor Roger Frick looking on. Photos by Tony Richards
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