Cityhood Group Persists Despite Lukewarm Backing

A South County group trying to turn 10 foothill communities into Orange County’s 32nd city said Tuesday that it will continue its effort despite flagging support from local residents.

“The committee feels the time for local elected leadership is long overdue,” said Michelle Lamb, who helps head the Foothill Cityhood Committee. “We’re going to keep moving forward.”

However, the committee will slow its campaign over the summer and renew it next fall, when vacations are over, kids are back in school and residents may have more free time to help the incorporation drive.

“Summer’s not the best time for this kind of thing,” said Coto de Caza resident Ron Greek, who is also a backer of cityhood.

The group began collecting signatures in April calling for a public vote on cityhood, but so far there has been little community support. About 800 of the needed 6,000 signatures have been collected, Lamb said.

The committee met Monday night to consider scrapping the efforts because few people in the communities seemed interested in donating money or time to gather signatures.

The areas to be incorporated under the proposal are Rancho Santa Margarita, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Rancho Cielo, Coto de Caza, Trabuco Canyon and Highlands, Robinson Ranch, Dove Canyon and Las Flores.

Backers believe incorporation would give them more local control and tax revenue. Critics fear it will mean higher taxes, fewer services and urban sprawl.

The committee decided to stick with the incorporation plan, believing local control is needed to deal with community concerns like the need for youth athletic fields, the loss of tax dollars to the county and the controversial proposal to build a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.