Trabuco Canyon : Water District Facing Loss of Big Development

The Local Agency Formation Commission took the first step Wednesday toward transferring a major residential development out of a water district accused by some developers of blocking their building plans.

The commission removed the 1,000-acre Portola Hills development at the edge of the entrance to Trabuco Canyon from the sphere of influence of the Santa Ana Mountains County Water District.

Commissioners warned that they will consider removing other developments as well at a July 8 hearing.

If residents of Portola Hills, a Baldwin Co. development, agree to switch to the Irvine Ranch Water District, which is next to the Santa Ana Mountains district, and if LAFC and the Board of Supervisors approve, the Santa Ana Mountains district will lose a major customer for its water.

Baldwin Co. officials said the Santa Ana Mountains district was slow in providing a permanent source of water for their development.

Jess Senecal, a lawyer for the water district, said that if LAFC lets the developers select which water district they want to join, the commission “is going to turn into a Price Club for developers” at the expense of residents already receiving water from the district.

Santa Ana Mountains district officials said they believe that Portola Hills residents will vote to remain in their district. The officials said they are taking steps to add to the district’s sources of water.