Six environmental and community groups on Thursday appealed a controversial Orange County Planning Commission decision that would allow more than 1,000 oak and sycamore trees to be cut down or endangered by home development at the county's eastern edge.
"We don't think the Planning Commission did the right thing. They didn't give us a fair hearing," said Ray Chandos, a longtime area resident and secretary of the Rural Canyons Conservation Fund who has fought to maintain the area's strict zoning.
Brian Murphy of the Orange County Planning and Development Services Department said the appeal was expected and that county supervisors would have to vote anyway on whether to uphold, deny or modify the Planning Commission's decision.
A vote by the supervisors has not been scheduled, and it is not clear if it will be held before or after a special election to replace former 3rd District supervisor Todd Spitzer. The project area is in the 3rd District.
