Kudos to the Forest Supervisor on the Cleveland National Forest for engaging in the local planning process and pointing out the threats to the national forest of increased housing density on its borders. This is one way the Forest Service can attempt to both protect its resources and manage its costs, but it’s not something I’ve seen very often. (In fact, I once saw a forest supervisor retract similar comments for political reasons.)
The Forest Conservation Initiative was a voter-approved initiative which required that private lands within the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County have a minimum lot size of 40 acres. The FCI was originally approved in 1993 and expired in 2010. An unusual history maybe, but it’s not unusual for local governments to allow increased development density (by either re-zoning or lack of zoning). The responsibility of the Forest Service to speak up for our national resources exists regardless.