Rezoning Clears Way for Homes

Paving the way for 140 new homes, the City Council has approved a rezoning proposal for 25 acres now being used by Capistrano by the Sea Hospital.

The land, now the site of a 100-bed inpatient psychiatric treatment center, had been designated for private or public community facilities only.

The property owner, Serenity Hill Associates of Los Angeles, is considering a residential subdivision there, said Michael Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the company.

Some residents of the city’s Village at Dana Point and Big Sur neighborhoods protested, telling the council that if the property were developed, beautiful trees would be destroyed, property values would drop, and traffic congestion would increase.

“The property is one of the last open spaces we have,” resident James Ettinger said of the site, which is between Del Obispo and Big Sur streets, south of Perch Drive. “The request to rezone is against city and community goals.”

Councilman Bill Ossenmacher took the same position. “We’re all being outmaneuvered,” he said. “Our quality of lives will suffer, and I’m sorry to see it happen.”

The council majority disagreed, however, and the change was approved on a 3-2 vote.

Mayor Karen Lloreda reminded the disgruntled residents after the vote that the council was not endorsing a new housing development, only a zoning change.