Council to Mull Cutting Red Tape for Construction Projects

In a move that could shave months off the time schedule for several construction projects now underway, the City Council on Tuesday will consider streamlining the paperwork process.

The ordinance before the council would allow developers to merge two or more parcels into one lot without having to file a new project map with the city.

“It’s part of the city’s overall business-friendly concept,” city planner Mike Balsamo said. “There would be no negative impacts on the city from this.”

The so-called urgency ordinance, which would take effect immediately instead of requiring the usual 30-day wait, would require at least a 4-1 vote of the council to pass.

Balsamo said that creating a tentative parcel map is a “fairly intensive” process that can add labor costs and months of time to a project.

The ordinance was developed by the city staff at the request of development firms. The changes would revise city laws adopted from the county code at the time of Lake Forest’s incorporation in 1991.

It would apply to work being done at Pacific Commercial Center, a 4.4-million-square-foot commercial site off Bake Parkway, and several other projects.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 23161 Lake Center Drive. Information: (714) 461-3400.