Binion Proposal for Laguna Niguel

The city of Laguna Beach must challenge the city of Laguna Niguel’s recent decision to divide the last South Laguna ridgeline parcel in preparation for development. The owners of this 50-acre wilderness area, the Las Vegas Binion casino syndicate, were apparently successful in intimidating most of the new Laguna Niguel City Council with threats of lawsuits, causing council members to abandon their professed commitments to environmental preservation.

More threatening to the citizens of Laguna Beach are the rows of ticky-tacky box houses planned for the rest of the ridgeline, finishing the destruction of the South Laguna ridgeline that was begun and only half-completed with the Laguna Sur and Monarch Point developments just north of the Binion property.

The city of Laguna Beach has repeatedly declared its opposition to any development activity along the Binion ridgeline that does not follow proper environmental review standards. South Laguna is waiting now for the city of Laguna Beach to take action on Laguna Niguel’s attempt to usurp Laguna Beach’s jurisdictional authority. The property is the southern end of the Laguna Greenbelt wilderness corridor and deserves the attention we give to the Laguna Canyon portion of this preserve.

MICHAEL BEANAN

South Laguna