Tustin Delays Action on Annexation Issues

The Tustin City Council on Monday postponed action on a number of controversial annexation issues, voting instead to hold another public hearing. The postponement came after the council was confronted by nearly 200 North Tustin residents, most of them opposed to annexation.

“These people are splitting us up in to little chunks so they can do what they want with us,” said Donald Karwelis, who lives in North Tustin and is against the city annexing the 160-acre Fairhaven parcel.

The annexation proposals have pitted residents who support annexation to Tustin against those who want the area to remain unincorporated and under the county’s jurisdiction.

“It’s not a democracy, it’s a tyranny,” Karwelis said, venting his anger at a state law that allows annexation with the approval of only 5% of the registered voters in the proposed area.

However, resident Douglas Chapman, who favors annexation, said homeowners can benefit by lower tax assessments and faster police response times.

“It’s either stay with the county and have higher taxes or join the city of Tustin and keep tax rates low,” Chapman said.

Chapman rejected an argument proposed by opponents of annexation, who have said that the city has major goals in store for the area, which is quiet and largely rural in atmosphere.

However, those opposed to annexation noted that the city has already received cost estimates on several projects.

City Council members have said they are officially neutral on the Fairhaven parcel, although the council did vote last week to annex the area known as 17th Street-Laurinda Way.

Mayor Ronald B. Hoesterey, who acknowledged the residents’ frustrations, said he believes that they deserve a quick response as to whether their homes might be annexed to the city.

“I think the most difficult area to deal with (for the residents) is the continuing uncertainty,” Hoesterey said.

Last week’s decision, which did not draw any protests, affects 18 homes, the Gerber Preschool and one professional office building. It is bounded by 17th Street on the south, Anglin Lane on the north, Laurinda Way on the west and Propect Avenue on the east.