LAGUNA NIGUEL : City Sues Citizens’ Ridgeline Committee

Laguna Niguel officials have asked the courts to decide whether the city must approve or put to a vote a ridgeline protection ordinance that has bitterly divided its residents.

The city filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court against the Laguna Niguel Citizens’ Committee for Ridgeline Protection and Preservation. That committee collected more than 4,000 signatures last summer in support of a proposed ordinance to outlaw development on city ridge tops.

City officials contend that the ordinance is unconstitutional because it would render some land undevelopable and would therefore amount to an uncompensated taking of private property. In addition, city officials say the lawsuits the ordinance might generate would put the city at considerable financial risk.

The suit asks the courts to determine if the proposed ordinance is valid and whether the city is obligated to either adopt it or put it to a vote, generally the next step in the initiative process.

The proposal calls for a 300-foot setback on both sides of ridgelines and would require that grading within 500 feet of hilltops be consistent with the slope of the land.