By Allen Bacon, The Daily BoscoAfter nearly 40 years of discussion on the future of West Coyote Hills, the Fullerton City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to approve Chevron Oil's plan to develop the former oil field.
The final vote was taken at 11:15 PM after nearly five hours of passionate and heartfelt pleas from Fullerton residents on both sides of the issue.
The loan dissenting vote was Sharon Quirk-Silva who attempted a last hour amendment to no avail.
55 citizens came forward at the public session with lively comments from residents that wanted the entire area set aside as a natural habitat to people that supported the compromise development plan. Participating in the public session were Fullerton residents of all ages from people who have lived in the city most of their lives to people that just recently moved in.
The development plan, considered a compromise by many, will have Chevron, who has owned the land since 1913, to build close to eight hundred new homes in different price ranges along with leaving approximately 40% of the land as a natural habita, building what Mayor Richard Jones called "Arboretum West" with miles of trails and a restoration of the land to it's natural setting before the oil company started taking crude oil out of the area in the early 1900's.
City Council member Patrick McKinley said it came down for him, the fundamental right for a property owner to be able to do what they want with their land as they see fit.
An archived video from the entire proceedings last night can be accessed through the City's website. We also have a link in the sidebar under our Radio and Television section.
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