LAGUNA BEACH : Firm Offers to Sell 276 Acres of Project

Irvine Co. Chairman Donald L. Bren Thursday offered to sell 276 acres of land earmarked for the controversial Laguna Laurel housing community to the city of Laguna Beach.

Bren’s offer, carrying a $38-million price tag, would scrap plans for a 237-acre private golf course and reduce the controversial 3,200-home project near the mouth of Laguna Canyon by about 250 homes.

Company officials said the offer is contingent on the city’s accepting the rest of the terms of the Laguna Laurel proposal. Under the agreement, city officials would also be required to lend their support to the proposed San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor and the widening of Laguna Canyon Road, two projects that have met stiff resistance in the city.

Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Lida Lenney criticized the offer.

“From my point of view, there are too many strings attached, and it is too cost-prohibitive,” Lenney said. “They’re still going along with their development; they will still be wrapped around both sides of the canyon and one of the lakes.”

Mayor Robert F. Gentry said that although the company addresses some of the city’s concerns, such as possible pollution from the proposed golf course, the project’s density will not change dramatically, Gentry said.

“If we would spend $38 million, the question . . . is if we reduced development by 500 homes, is that an equitable deal?” Gentry said. “That takes about 5,000 car trips a day out of a development that is going to generate about 35,000 car trips a day.”

City officials and residents have contested the proposed development because of environmental concerns. They fear that the 2,150--acre project would send runoff, including pesticides from the golf course, into the ocean through storm drains. Others simply want the rural canyon maintained in its natural state.

The golf course would be a dead issue were the city to accept the terms of the agreement.

Gentry said the matter will be placed on the agenda for the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.

Gentry said company officials made the offer during a meeting Thursday with Gentry, Lenney, City Manager Kenneth C. Frank and Irvine Co. Executive Vice President Gary Hunt.

Company officials said they made the offer because the proposed golf course appeared to be an obstacle to the project.

Environmental groups, who say the new offer doesn’t change much, are still making plans for a Nov. 11 walk along Laguna Canyon Road to protest the project.