Medical Lab in Caspers

The recent decision of the Orange County Planning Commission to approve use of a 101-acre site surrounded by Caspers Wilderness Park as a medical research facility should be applauded. Forwarding this proposal to the county supervisors should guarantee development of this land, which would be totally in line with our county’s elected officials’ view of wilderness, open space, wildlife and their negative impact on development.

The fact that the proposed facility will use animals for their “research� and development of serums and vaccines could make the site more attractive to the corporation that wants to buy the land, as perhaps a few critters could be picked up around the perimeters of the site at a fraction of the cost of buying them on the open market.

And if anyone wants to do “research� on mountain lions, why, what better place could be found? Think of the time and money that could be saved by locating the facility in the middle of a “wilderness� park!

While open space and land for development are becoming scarce in the county, there must be a better site for this facility. Hundreds, perhaps. Twenty-three huge buildings, 1,100 employees and their cars and numerous helicopter flights day and night have no place in a wilderness setting. I urge county residents to write their supervisors on this issue before the “rape, ruin and run� boys do it to us again.

DAN HAYES

Lake Forest