LAKE FOREST
A plan to rezone an industrial area off El Toro Road drew protests from several business and property owners at last week’s City Council meeting.
The proposal to phase out auto repair shops, storage yards and construction businesses in favor of smaller commercial shops is part of a draft plan to redevelop the El Toro Road corridor from Interstate 5 to about Jeronimo Road.
Property owner Veronica Dickenson told the council Wednesday that land values in the industrial area would plummet under the proposed commercial zoning. The area “serves the needs of a lot of people,” she said.
The property owners did support part of the redevelopment plan, including proposals to add traffic and turning lanes on streets near the freeway and to construct a pedestrian-oriented street east of El Toro Road.
The plan, which would provide a framework to redevelop El Toro Road over the next 10 to 20 years, is in a draft stage. City officials plan to hold six workshops this summer to solicit public comment.
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