Not much.

$\"Construction$

In an aerial view, construction workers stand on the roof of homes under construction at a new housing development on June 24, 2026 in Valencia, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Good news for housing-hungry Californians: A new development in Orange County was approved in May.

The bad news: Approval took almost 50 years.

The Saddleback Meadows project in Trabuco Canyon, California, first appeared on the Orange County supervisors’ agenda in 1978—when your favorite correspondent, who passed the eligibility age for unrestricted AARP membership a few years back, was in kindergarten.

$\"Photo$

Kevin D. Williamson

Kevin D. Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch and is based in Virginia. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor at National Review, worked as the theater critic at the New Criterion, and had a long career in local newspapers. He is also a writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Kevin is not reporting on the world outside Washington for his Wanderland newsletter, you can find him at the rifle range or reading a book about literally almost anything other than politics.

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Upgrade now to start listening.\n\n\nnostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqjrnckcvvew9ayuy2mr5kq2w3asc4c6mqy96yw5mlcygwxl6uclvqqjrqvmrv9nrgdrx956n2dn9956rwdtz943xgep395cnse33x5mkvwtrv33rq86vdkw ","created_at",1788417476,"authorNPub","markdown","Not much.\n\n![Construction workers install roofing materials on multi-story residential buildings under renovation in an urban neighborhood.](https://i0.wp.com/thedispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2283143749.jpg?w=1400&strip=all&ssl=1)\n\nIn an aerial view, construction workers stand on the roof of homes under construction at a new housing development on June 24, 2026 in Valencia, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\n\nIn an aerial view, construction workers stand on the roof of homes under construction at a new housing development on June 24, 2026 in Valencia, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\n\nGood news for housing-hungry Californians: A new development in Orange County was approved in May.\n\nThe bad news: Approval took almost 50 years.\n\nThe Saddleback Meadows project in Trabuco Canyon, California, first appeared on the Orange County supervisors’ agenda in 1978—when your favorite correspondent, who passed the eligibility age for unrestricted AARP membership a few years back, was in kindergarten.\n\n![Photo of Kevin D. Williamson](https://i0.wp.com/thedispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cropped-Dispatch-Portraits-Nov-1.png?w=120&strip=all&ssl=1)\n\n[Kevin D. Williamson](https://thedispatch.com/author/kevin-d-williamson)\n\nKevin D. Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch and is based in Virginia. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor at National Review, worked as the theater critic at the New Criterion, and had a long career in local newspapers. He is also a writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Kevin is not reporting on the world outside Washington for his Wanderland newsletter, you can find him at the rifle range or reading a book about literally almost anything other than politics.\n\nComments require JavaScript. 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