Open Space

Lake Forest is in the process of losing an additional 73.6 acres of natural open space. The land is located northwest of the El Toro Road/Santa Margarita Parkway intersection and is part of the Rancho de Los Alisos planned community.

This area of county-owned land was excluded from the city boundaries of Lake Forest; however, it is within the city’s sphere of influence. We cannot let the farsighted planners who recognized the need to maintain open space have their vision obstructed.

We need to ask our elected officials the following questions:

* Why is Rancho de Los Alisos being amended to delete 73.6 acres? It was created in 1976 to ensure a certain quality of life for residents of the community, the county and now the city of Lake Forest. The amount of net open space that will be lost is 54 acres, or 10% of the open space allocated to the Rancho de Los Alisos planned community. This does not even consider the valuable natural habitat that will be lost.

* Why do we need to develop the land as a business park? The county has stated that this land use is compatible with the surrounding areas. The area is now compatible with what the land used to be. Let us keep this remaining area as open space so that we can tell our children what this area used to be like.

* Do we need another business park? Driving through Foothill Ranch, Irvine Spectrum, Mission Viejo, Baker Ranch and Rancho Santa Margarita, one cannot help but notice all the “For Lease” and “Build to Suit” signs.

* When the Local Agency Formation Commission created the boundaries for the city of Lake Forest, why was this portion of the Rancho de Los Alisos planned community left out? It would have made sense to include all of it since it was one master-planned community. Was the county planning to rezone this open space back then?

* Throughout the draft environmental impact report there are statements that open space will be enhanced within the Foothill Ranch planned community. Why is the Foothill Ranch area being enhanced to the detriment of Lake Forest and Rancho de Los Alisos?

However, the most important issue is that of public trust. When the Rancho de Los Alisos planned community was created, open space was mandated at 50%. This has been in the Feature Plan since it was written in 1976. The public holds the county responsible for safeguarding this document and what it represents. How and under what circumstances can the public trust be broken?

RICHARD A. PENKAVA

Lake Forest