Guide to the Orange County Environmental Issues, Land Use, and Planning Collection MS.R.065

Processed by Laura Clark Brown; machine-readable finding aid created by Michael C. Conkin

Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

(cc) 1998

The UCI Libraries

P.O. Box 19557

University of California, Irvine

Irvine 92623-9557

spcoll@uci.edu

URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu

Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

Title: Orange County environmental issues, land use, and planning collection

Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.065

Physical Description: 2.9 Linear Feet (5 boxes and 1 oversize folder)

Date (inclusive): 1919-1973

Date (bulk): 1960-1970

Abstract: The collection consists of correspondence, reports, court documents, minutes, photographs, and newspaper clippings documenting three major environmental and political issues in Orange County, California, in the 1960s: agricultural preserves, beach erosion, and redistricting. Primary creators and collectors of the documents include the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Orange County Planning Commission. Documents illustrate political positions, public opinion, and law on land conservation and land use. Aerial photographs depict Pacific coastline erosion, and maps illustrate districting plans.

General Physical Description note: 2.9 linear feet

Language of Material: English .

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred Citation

Orange County Environmental Issues, Land Use, and Planning Collection. MS-R65. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

Various officials from the Orange County Board of Supervisors donated records and publications to the UCI Libraries in the late 1970's. Most publications were cataloged in the Government Information Department; the present group of records was placed in the Department of Special Collections to receive archival handling.

Processing History

Processed by Laura Clark Brown in 1998.

History

Orange County, California is located on Southern California's Pacific coast between Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. The county was formally established in 1889 when the southern portion of Los Angeles County separated to become Orange County. The City of Santa Ana is the county seat, and Orange County is governed by a Board of Supervisors comprised of five elected officials, representing regional constituencies.

Orange County was heavily agricultural prior to its inception and until the 1960s. Oranges were the primary cash crop, and other crops included lemons, lima beans, tomatoes, walnuts, peppers and beets. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Orange County experienced massive land development, urbanization, and a significant population increase. The completion of a network of freeways contributed to these phenomena, and the land development and the growth of new towns and cities diminished many of the orange groves and open fields of Orange County.

Excessive development and overpopulation are long-standing, major issues in Orange County, and both coastal and environmental issues associated with development have played a major role in local politics and public policy, particularly in the post-World War II era

Chronology

Missing Title

1933	Orange County Harbor District established under the Harbor Improvements District Act.
1963	Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized participation in the Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
1963	Local Agency Formation Commission organized.
1964	Phase 1 of Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
1965	California Land Conservation Act of 1965, also known as the Williamson Act.
1966	California State Constitution amended, giving the legislature power to enact laws pertaining to open space.
1967	California State Constitution amended to provide special tax privileges to preserve land for "the production of food and fiber ..."
1967	UCI-Project 21 Study Team on Coordination of Urban Planning organized.
1967	Phase 2 of Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
1968	Proposal for the dissolution of the Harbor District and replacement by a County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks.
1968	General and special district elections in Orange County.
1968	County Assessor Andrew J. Hinshaw presented findings on double taxation to the Local Agency Formation Commission.
1969	Irvine Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo agricultural preserves proposed and approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
1971	Following the 1970 census, Orange County reapportioned the supervisorial districts.
1972	California Coastal Zone Conservation Act.
1973	California legislature mandated open space and conservation elements in local general plans.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The collection consists of correspondence, reports, court documents, minutes, photographs, and newspaper clippings documenting three major environmental and political issues in Orange County, California, in the 1960s: agricultural preserves, beach erosion and redistricting. Primary creators and collectors of the documents include the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Orange County Planning Commission. Documents illustrate political positions, public opinion, and law on land conservation and land use. Aerial photographs depict Pacific coastline erosion, and maps illustrate districting plans.

The collection is organized in three subject series: Agricultural Preserves; Beach Erosion; and Special Districts, Redistricting and Planning. Material were originally in three large binders with similar titles and presumably comprised research materials compiled by or for one or more members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Original order of the materials was retained, and it has no discernible logic.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Environmental policy -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources

Agriculture and politics -- California -- Orange County.

Agriculture -- California -- Orange County.

California -- California Land Conservation Act of 1965.

Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County.

Maps -- California -- Orange County.

Shore protection -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources

Beach erosion -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources

Regional planning -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources

Land use -- Law and legislation -- California -- Orange County

Land use -- Environmental Aspects -- California -- Orange County

Environmental protection -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources

Agricultural preserves Series 1. 1965-1969

Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, minutes, reports, newspaper clippings, and court documents chronicle Orange County's implementation of the California Land Conservation Act of 1965. Correspondence was primarily between political officials, particularly Orange County Supervisors. Most materials pertain to two proposals for agricultural preserves in Irvine Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo. Items date from 1965 to 1969.

box 1, folder 1

Outline of Williamson Act and O.C. Board resolution concerning proposed preserves (1969)

box 1, folder 2

Agricultural Preserve Analysis, Irvine Ranch Application (1968)

box 1, folder 3

Correspondence and report concerning proposed Rancho Mission Viejo Agricultural Preserve (1968)

box 1, folder 4

Agreement between the Irvine Company and Orange County (1969)

box 1, folder 5-6

"Preserving Farms Today for Open Space Tomorrow," a report to the O.C. Planning Commission on implementing the Williamson Act (1968)

box 1, folder 7

Correspondence, memoranda, report and article for the O.C. Planning Commission on implementing the Williamson Act (1968-1969)

box 1, folder 8

Williamson Act (1965)

box 1, folder 9

Correspondence, request for independent counsel, transcript of O.C. Board meeting and newspaper clippings concerning the County Assessor and the Board of Equalization (1967-1969)

box 1, folder 10

Memorandum, correspondence and O.C. Board resolution concerning County Counsel (1967-1969)

box 1, folder 11

"Preserving Open Space in Orange County, Implementation of the California Land Conservation Act in Orange County" by the UCI Project 21 Study Team (1969)

box 1, folder 12

Articles (1967)

box 1, folder 12

"A New Program for Agricultural Land Use Stabilization: The California Land Conservation Act of 1965"

box 1, folder 12

"Assessment of Farmland Under the California Land Conservation Act and the Breathing Space Amendment"

box 1, folder 12

Report: "Rural Zoning: People, Property, and Public Policy" (1968)

box 1, folder 13

Letters and statements in favor of agricultural preserves (1968-1969)

box 1, folder 14

Court documents, letters and statements against agricultural preserves (1969)

box 1, folder 15

Newspaper clippings (1968-1969)

box 1, folder 16

"Trends in Orange County Agricultural Use," correspondence and newspaper clipping (1966-1967)

box 1, folder 17

The Irvine Company Presentation for its Request for Modification of Assessments (1967)

box 1, folder 18

O.C. Board Resolutions, correspondence, and Land Conservation Agreement (1967- 1969)

Beach erosion Series 2. 1919-1971

Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents note

Reports, correspondence, financial papers, photographs and maps document Orange County's participation in the Federal Beach Erosion Control Project in the 1960s, specifically in the Surfside area. Items date from 1919 to 1971.

box 2, folder 1

"Sunset Beach - Surfside Study," Technical Report, Phase 1 (1967)

box 2, folder 2

Correspondence, reports and Newport Beach City Council minutes concerning Surfside Study (1962-1971)

box 2, folder 3-4

Correspondence, legal documents, financial papers, reports and summaries concerning the Beach Erosion Control Project (1963- 1970)

box 2, folder 5

Photographs of Surfside (1963)

box 2, folder 5

Photographs, aerial panoramic of Orange County coastline

box 5, folder 1

1963

folder XOS 1

undated

box 2, folder 6

"Summary of State and Federal Flood Relief and Disaster Laws Providing Financial Assistance to Local Agencies in Protecting and Restoring Public Property" (1963)

box 2, folder 7

Plan D, Beach Erosion Control Study (1963)

box 2, folder 8

"Report and Summary of Orange County Coastal Area Disaster" (1963)

box 2, folder 9

Recommendations of the Orange County Harbor Commission, agreements, O.C. Board resolutions, Newport Beach City Council resolutions, and Plan E concerning Beach Erosion Control Study (1963)

box 2, folder 10

"Report on the Beach Erosion Control Project by the Orange County Harbor Commission (1963)

box 2, folder 11

Summary of Beach Erosion Control Study (1963)

box 2, folder 12

Digest for the Beach Erosion Control Report Phase 2 (1963)

box 2, folder 13

Correspondence with digest concerning Beach Erosion Control Study (1962-1963)

box 2, folder 14-15

Reports on Beach Erosion: Vicinity of Anaheim Harbor and Surfside

box 2, folder 14

1949

box 2, folder 15

1951

box 2, folder 16

Newspaper clippings (1963)

box 2, folder 17

California codes concerning beach erosion (1919-1929)

box 2, folder 18

"San Gabriel River to Newport Bay, Orange County, California, Appendix 5, Phase 2, Beach Erosion Control Study -- Letter from the Secretary of the Army..." (1962)

Special districts, redistricting, and planning Series 3. 1953-1973

Physical Description: 1.9 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, reports, financial papers, and maps reflect Orange County municipal government planning in the 1960s and early 1970s. Major issues include reapportionment and redistricting, dissolution of the special Harbor District and double taxation in areas where incorporated cities and special districts overlapped. Series also contains draft versions of the General Plan for the City of Irvine. Items date from 1953 to 1973.

box 3, folder 1-4

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, summaries, O.C. Board resolutions, minutes, legal documents, state and municipal code, budgets, and newspaper clippings concerning the dissolution of the Harbor District (1964-1968)

box 3, folder 5

"A Report to the Board of Supervisors on the Supervisorial Redistricting Problem in Orange County, California" (1965)

box 3, folder 6

Correspondence and city council and school district board resolutions concerning the Orange County Metropolitan Area Committee, chaired by William J. Phillips (1963)

box 3, folder 7

Resolutions in Support of the Orange County Metropolitan Area Status (1963)

box 3, folder 8

Recommendation of the Northwesterly Orange County Coastal Projects Coordinating Committee concerning Route 1; 240 freeway (1966)

box 3, folder 9

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes and maps from the Northwesterly Orange County Coastal Projects Coordinating Committee and its subcommittees (1963-1965)

box 3, folder 10

"Proposed Supervisorial Redistricting Report" (1962)

folder XOS 1

Maps

folder XOS 1

Supervisorial districts

folder XOS 1

1953

folder XOS 1

1957

folder XOS 1

1959

folder XOS 1

1961

folder XOS 1

1963

folder XOS 1

April 1965

folder XOS 1

December 1965

folder XOS 1

Census tracts by statistical areas (1970)

folder XOS 1

Plan A

folder XOS 1

Plan B

folder XOS 1

Plan C

folder XOS 1

Plan E

folder XOS 1

Plan F

box 4, folder 1

Correspondence concerning supervisorial redistricting (1965)

box 4, folder 2

Correspondence, memoranda, legal documents, minutes, and summary outline of redistricting problem (1971)

box 4, folder 3

Supervisorial redistricting Plans A-F with Maps (1971)

box 4, folder 4

Notes, minutes, municipal code, and newspaper clippings concerning reapportionment (1965)

box 4, folder 5

Quarterly Population Report from the Orange County Population Research Committee (1964)

box 4, folder 6

"Reapportionment Revisited -- Is the Handwriting on the Wall for State and Local Government in California?" with maps (1965)

box 4, folder 7-12

Reapportionment plans

box 4, folder 7

Plan K

box 4, folder 8

Plan X

box 4, folder 9

Plan X-1

box 4, folder 10

Plan X-2

box 4, folder 11

Plan X-3

box 4, folder 12

Plan Y

box 4, folder 13

Newspaper clippings concerning supervisorial redistricting (1971)

box 4, folder 14

Summary, budgets and newspaper clippings concerning county taxation (1970- 1971)

box 4, folder 15

Orange County cities' tax rates (1969)

box 4, folder 16-17

Special districts in Orange County, inventories (1967-1970)

box 4, folder 18-19

Correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, statements, certificates and O.C. Board resolutions concerning special district elections (1969)

box 4, folder 20

Special district budgets and tax rates (1965-1969)

box 4, folder 21

"Trade Outlets and Taxable Retail Sales in California" (1968-1969)

box 4, folder 22

Report on Municipal Revenue (1965)

box 4, folder 23-24

Correspondence, O.C. Board resolutions and newspaper clippings concerning double taxation and special districts (1968-1969)

box 4, folder 25

Report by the Intergovernmental Council on Urban Growth (1968)

box 4, folder 26

Notes and supporting information concerning local government operations (1967- 1969)

box 5, folder 2

"Phase 1, Master Plan of Air Transportation For Orange County, California" (1968)

box 5, folder 3

"A Study for the Richard Nixon Foundation, Phase 1" (1970)

box 5, folder 4

"Final Report, Southern California Regional Aviation System Study" (1972)

box 5, folder 5-10

City of Irvine General Plan

box 5, folder 5

Preliminary Conceptual Alternatives (1973)

box 5, folder 6

Comprehensive Evaluation Process, Work Sheet (ca. 1973)

box 5, folder 7-10

Draft Plan (1973)

box 5, folder 7

Supplements (1973)

box 5, folder 8

No. 1

box 5, folder 9

No. 2

box 5, folder 10

No. 3