Property Owners Push Lake Forest Council to Fast-Track Building Process

Eager to build on land previously unsuitable for residential use due to noise from the now-closed El Toro base, developers' plans got a boost Tuesday night from the Lake Forest City Council.

A process by which interested landowners could push forward with their development plans must come before the council for a potential vote by its second August meeting, Mayor Pete Herzog told city staff, over objections that setting a date while major issues with developing such a process still loom is a dicey proposition.

He took staff to task for the lack of progress made on developing such a process since the City Council charged them with the task in May.

"I was expecting something a little more concrete,” Herzog said, after hearing from City Manager Robert Dunek that major concerns still must be addressed before a process can be put in place.

Once voters denied a plan for a commercial airport, the city began a comprehensive land use study of the area in questions in 2003. In 2008 and 2010, the City Council approved the development of as many as 4,295 residential units on five separate properties in the 930-acre swath of land, known as the Opportunity Study Area. Under those agreements, the landowners will pay a per unit fee to fund some of city's major public facilities construction plans, among other things.

Concerns with additional residential developments, which would require a switch from the land's current commercial zoning, include fee equity, development mitigation, long-term fiscal impacts, land-use compatibility with adjacent properties, future requests for land-use changes, school impact and affordable housing requirements.

The end goal, according to city staff, is to find a way for property owners to develop independent development schedules, instead having to proceeding collectively as the landowners already approved for residential development were required to do.

However, representatives of the property owners interested in building in the OSA who spoke at the meeting requested that the city move forward with the necessary zone changes while those issues are resolved. 

James O'Malley, representing Trumark Homes and a property in Foothill Ranch owned by the McPherson Family Trust, agreed that the issues in the staff report need to be resolved, but said the question is how to move forward in the meantime.

"We’re kind of stuck in limbo," O'Malley said.

Dave Bartlett, representing Brookfield Homes, echoed O'Malley's sentiments.

“We would like to see a little bit of certainty ... timing as to when we can get started,” he said.

The council directed staff to have a plan ready by the Aug. 16 City Council meeting.