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Growth and Development Local growth and growth controls have become less pressing issues for Orange County residents, as jobs and the economy have taken center stage. Fifty-four percent of residents perceive their cities and communities in the past few years as growing rapidly. Twenty-one percent see their localities as growing slowly, while 25 percent say they are unchanged or are losing population. The proportion who see their communities as growing rapidly dropped 10 points from last year. At the same time, those perceiving slow growth increased by 3 points, and those seeing the population staying the same or declining rose by 7 points. Compared to 1982, the number saying that local population has remained steady or declined is 5 points higher, while the proportion noticing rapid growth is down 3 points. Perceptions of rapid local growth are more prevalent in the South County (62%) and Central County (57%) than the North County (51%) and the West County (42%). There are no major differences in perceptions of local growth by age or income level. Fifty percent believe that the government regulations in their cities and communities aimed at controlling growth are not strict enough, while 40 percent say they are about right and 10 percent think the local growth controls are too strict. As would be expected, given the declining perceptions of rapid growth, fewer residents now support stricter local growth regulations. The proportion who say that current regulations are not strict enough is down 7 points from a year ago. The 1992 survey has found the lowest level of support for stricter growth regulations since 1988. The desire for stricter growth controls is somewhat lower in the South County, where 46 percent believe their local controls are not strict enough, 41 percent say they are about right and 12 percent think they are too strict. Elsewhere in the county, 52 percent say local controls are not strict enough, 39 percent think they are about right and 9 percent see them as too strict. There are no major differences in preferences for stricter local growth regulations by age or income level. |
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