Bopf's day job is development

Bill Bopf, Rainbow Water director and Fallbrook Community Planning Group member, has for months been singing the tune that for Rainbow to turn down the annexation of Pardee’s property in exchange for a “free” sewage treatment plant would be unwarranted interference in planning and land use areas. Recently, Tom Weise of Sycamore Ranch joined the chorus. They make it sound like those of us who oppose this whole bad idea are doing something wrong.

I believe that the former Rainbow board (on which Mr. Bopf sat) which decided to support and encourage the Pardee development was doing the land use planning. They gave Pardee a substantial reduction in the price of EDUs (equivalent dwelling units, each representing sewer service to one home). They bought the shell game that declared that the plant was “free,” while a convoluted financing plan would have the ratepayers actually footing the bill. They approved the contract drawn up by Rainbow’s attorney, which contained many escape hatches for Pardee and none for Rainbow. With their blessing, Rainbow gave up a great deal of staff and management time to work on the Pardee issue, to the neglect of the primary business of the district.

Surely Mr. Bopf, whose day job is in development, understands that giving special considerations and concessions to encourage a development activity is engaging in land use planning.

I hope now that the community has had an opportunity to express its opposition to this Trojan horse, he will let that old refrain die... and will stop trying to blame the public for expecting the board to protect the interests of the district and the ratepayers. A second meeting is planned for April 27 at the Rancho Monserate clubhouse.