Southeast : Developer to Make Peace Offering to City

The developer of an environmentally sensitive portion of La Habra Heights has finally made peace with the City Council, although the parcel’s future is far from settled.

City Council members voted unanimously Thursday to accept $210,000 from Forum Country Clubs of California, putting an end to a two-year legal spat over whether the company owed the city for development fees and election costs.

Forum had refused to pay after its plan to build 150 homes and a golf course on the site was voted down in a citywide referendum in 1993. In a recent agreement, however, Forum decided to pay part of the city’s claim to avoid further court costs.

Mayor John Powers hailed the mediated settlement as a goodwill gesture on both sides, but added that the issue of what will become of the project--dubbed Powder Canyon--remains unresolved. Representatives for the developer could not be reached for comment.

Forum officials were upset in 1993 when two council members excused themselves from voting on the project. Unable to reach a majority, the council turned the issue over to voters, who overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.