Laguna Hills Annexes Part of Aliso Viejo

To a round of applause from residents of Aliso Viejo, the Laguna Hills City Council on Thursday unanimously approved annexation of 150 acres of the community.

“We’re looking forward to becoming full-fledged citizens of Laguna Hills,” said resident David Woodward, who called the vote a victory for his neighborhood of Indian Hills.

Two-year resident Sherry Bendall was the only person from the area who spoke out Thursday against annexation. She submitted a petition with 100 signatures protesting the city’s plan.

Laguna Hills City Clerk Mary A. Carlson said 47 additional written protests were filed, and 29 “withdraw of protest” forms were submitted to void names from the petition.

According to state law, if 25% or more of the registered voters in a community sign a petition protesting an annexation, the city would be forced to bring the issue to a vote. If more than 50% of registered voters signed a petition of protest, the annexation would be terminated and the land would remain unincorporated.

Of the area’s 1,800 residents, Carlson said, 1,105 are registered voters. The protest would have needed at least 277 signatures to force an election.

The state’s Local Agency Formation Commission for Orange County, which oversees annexations, approved Laguna Hills’ proposal last month. Don White, assistant city manager, said the council’s vote will be validated by the agency today, and the annexation should be completed early next week.