Centers of Attention

It seems absurd that so much of South County developed and then incorporated without any provision for community centers. That’s what has happened. Efforts to remedy the situation are regrettably late due to the inattention or indifference of early planners. They are welcome, if tardy.

Nationally, the spread of suburbs has prompted the abandonment of downtowns in some parts of the country and, in reaction, the revitalization of them in others. South County’s situation arises from rapid growth in recent years. Massive developments in unincorporated areas were approved by the county without sufficient attention to core center areas for the inclusion of such amenities as city halls and libraries.

As a result, many citizens have found themselves gathering to conduct serious business in such informal settings as pizza restaurants. Over the sounds of video games and the sights of televised sports, they have labored to identify their common purposes and get things done. Fortunately, that is changing, as civic leaders work to provide a string of recently incorporated cities with the municipal centers that they should have had all along.

Part of the problem is that the new cities were almost built out when they incorporated, and some blame the county for lack of vision in planning for these amenities. Unbelievable as this is, it is not out of character with the way development was often done. Now those who live in these areas must work backward to try to create a sense of identity where none exists.

In Laguna Hills, the City Council recently approved a $20-million recreation/library complex. There are plans to redevelop El Toro Road so that there can be room also for a city hall. Mission Viejo has started work on a library, and there are plans for a city hall as well.

Dana Point purchased the office complex where its City Hall is located, and there are plans for a town center around Pacific Coast Highway and Street of the Golden Lantern. Both Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest are working on plans that could include a town center.

These communities are to be encouraged in their resolve to create the centers they need. This sense of identity and identification with the hometown is worth fostering.