Laguna Niguel Land Giveaway: Finding Culprits in Lost Space

We are writing to express our support of the strong action taken by the Laguna Niguel City Council July 17, with regard to the giving away of 96 acres of public parkland to developer Taylor Woodrow.

Mayor Patricia Bates has set the right standard in declaring the City Council’s determination to protect the public’s property and rights. Councilman James F. Krembas and all other city and county officials are public servants who must honor the trust that has been placed in them.

Too often in the last 15 years, citizens have felt that county government is largely in the service of developers who seek to exploit communities and destroy the landscape for corporate and personal profit.

Communities such as Laguna Beach, which have actively sought to protect their environmental heritage and remain good places to live, are accused of being exclusive and shutting the door to others.

Developers seek to present themselves as serving the interests of the people by building as many houses as possible. They act as though it is outrageous and unfair for a community to try to protect itself from their profiteering and destruction of precious natural resources. And never mind that they take their profits and live elsewhere.

How did 96 acres of public parkland come to be lost? Since Laguna Niguel is a new city without its own planning staff, it has been under contract with county government to provide the proper protection for local land-use. The present situation again brings to light the grave concern that for many years county officials have not been adequately protecting our communities. They have instead pursued a high-growth policy without regard for the extreme density and traffic problems that would result.

A good example of county insensitivity to land-use can be seen in the large portion of the Binion hillside and ridgeline above South Laguna which was left under county control (now part of Laguna Niguel) when South Laguna was annexed to the city of Laguna Beach, deliberately creating problems that can only be solved by large expenditures on the part of Laguna Beach.

Laguna Niguel became a city to prevent violations of the public trust regarding land-use. Many communities are seeking to incorporate for similar reasons.

The illegal disposal of public parkland causes us to wonder what other improprieties may have occurred under county control. In the past we have condemned the high-growth policies so rigorously pursued by the county.

Now we must question the very integrity of documents signed by county officials. If Councilman Krembas did not draw up or approve the document which bears his signature, who did?

MARY DOUGLAS

DAVID SMITH

Sunset Community Action Committee

South Laguna