Laguna Beach : Old Top of the World Faces Annexation Vote

Residents of Old Top of the World, an unincorporated pocket of homes in the hills above Laguna Beach, will vote on annexation to that city in November.

The City Council could have annexed the rustic community by resolution at its meeting last week, but 28% of Old Top of the World voters objected, forcing the city to put the issue on the November ballot.

The city wants to annex the community so it can receive about $25,000 in tax revenues that now go the county, said Rob Clark, assistant to the city manager. Residents use the city’s parks, streets, and beaches, Clark said, and the area is served by the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

The benefits of annexation for the residents would be cable TV access, local police service and a smaller bill for extending the city’s sewer system to the community, Clark said.

But many residents objected to annexation at Tuesday’s council meeting, expressing concern that the community’s rural atmosphere would be eroded by the city’s tough development standards.

If Old Top of the World votes to annex to Laguna Beach, the city will pay $117,000 of the $685,000 total cost of the sewer system extension--otherwise, Old Top of the World property owners must bear the entire cost themselves, Clark said. The extra cost would be about $1,275 per lot, he said.