City Council Hears Views on Aegean Hills’ Fate

The Mission Viejo City Council met late into the night Monday, hearing discussions about the unincorporated Aegean Hills community and some communities within the new city’s sphere of influence.

About 125 people, mostly from the Aegean Hills community west of Mission Viejo, packed the council chambers to express their opinions before the five City Council members, who took office Thursday when Mission Viejo officially became a city.

“We already feel like we’re part of Mission Viejo,” said Aegean Hills resident Gary Morris, reflecting the opinions expressed by several in the audience who wore “I Mission Viejo” bumper stickers on their clothing.

Council members have said they want to include Aegean Hills, a community of about 5,000, within the sphere of influence of Mission Viejo. Spheres of influence delineate unincorporated areas outside the city limits that a city eventually may want to annex. In the case of Aegean Hills, the community would bring Mission Viejo nearly $1 million in surplus revenue after paying for municipal services, according to estimates. A citizens group in Aegean Hills has been organizing a petition drive supporting annexation.

The council also discussed including within the sphere of influence the unincorporated land between its southeast border and the city of San Juan Capistrano, as well as areas between its northeastern border and the community of Rancho Santa Margarita.

Once the council has decided on the sphere of influence, it must apply for approval from the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission, which ultimately decides the sphere-of-influence boundaries. LAFCO has scheduled an April 13 study session to gather information about future annexation or incorporation plans for all remaining unincorporated areas in south Orange County.