Toll Road Would Lead to Sprawl

* As a busy mother of two boys I don’t get much time to read all the editorials regarding the Foothill South toll road. However, from what I have read and have learned, it sounds like building this toll road would be a huge mistake. Rare, valuable and sensitive habitat would be threatened and subsequently destroyed. The wonderful quality of life in South County (especially of that in San Clemente), which is already diminishing due to urban sprawl, could disappear altogether.

I feel so fortunate to have grown up in San Clemente during a much simpler time. Unfortunately, our boys will only know what it’s like to live in an area whose back hills are dotted with homes and large shopping complexes. Building the Foothill South toll road only will open up what’s left of the back country to more communities, more people, and, of course, more traffic.

We need more urban sprawl like we need a nuclear meltdown at San Onofre! All it boils down to is money. Money for the developers and anyone else who can get a piece of the pie. I am against the continued building of new communities in Orange County altogether.

TANYA PORTER

San Clemente