Parkland Case Could Prompt a Laguna Niguel Building Ban

LAGUNA NIGUEL —  In the wake of revelations that a Laguna Niguel city councilman signed away the public’s right to 99 acres of potential parkland, the council will meet tonight to consider halting home construction on the property or bringing all building in the city to a halt.

A blanket building moratorium should at least be considered while planning officials review remaining planned construction in the city, Councilman Thomas W. Wilson said.

“I would think that we would want to look at everything on the books,” Wilson added. “I think that would assure our constituency that we are going to walk slowly and assure ourselves that everything that’s going to happen in Laguna Niguel has been scrutinized by the city and the county.”

Mayor Patricia Bates said Monday that she has asked the city attorney to brief the council tonight on legal options. Among them are denying building permits for homes not yet built on the land in question, or a broader moratorium on most construction in the city.

“I think that it’s a necessary step to ensure that the public’s rights are protected,” Bates said. “Until this point in time, there was no reason to suspect there was a problem with the process.”

Council members said they have been deluged with calls from residents outraged by the transaction in which City Councilman James F. Krembas signed over the land to Taylor Woodrow Homes California Ltd. three months before the firm hired his wife. The transaction is under investigation by the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Scores of civic activists are expected to pack the council chambers at the 7 p.m. meeting.

“We hope the D.A. will continue digging deeper because this is just the latest chapter in the developer cartel that has been controlling development in South County for the past 10 years,” said Michael Beanan, a member of the South Laguna Civic Assn., which plans a show of force at the meeting.

In a deed dated Feb. 12, 1988, Krembas signed over 99 acres bordering Salt Creek Regional Park to Taylor Woodrow. Krembas, who could not be reached for comment Monday, has denied any impropriety, saying he mistakenly signed the deed, thinking it was part of another transaction. He has also criticized county officials for allowing development on the property.

Taylor Woodrow President Gordon Tippell has said that the company had permission from the county to build the homes, and that it provided public benefits in exchange for the open space. The land, which had been dedicated as open space by another developer in 1985, is now part of the Marina Hills subdivision. About 100 homes have been built on it and foundations have been laid for another 77.

Civic activists and politicians noted Monday that some of the property is now part of an exclusive gated community. Such developments have long been the focus of heated controversy in many South County cities.

“This is a slap in the face that not only is the parkland gone, but a gate was put across it,” said Laguna Niguel City Councilman Paul Christiansen. “Everywhere I go--from the banks to the markets to my own neighbors--people are coming up and saying, ‘What happened? What could have gone wrong?’ ”

While council members expressed concern Monday about the loss of open space, they were reluctant to criticize Krembas.

Bates said she had “absolutely unwavering confidence” that he had acted appropriately and that she did not expect his actions to be the focus of any discussion tonight.

Wilson said he accepted Krembas’ denial of any impropriety “at face value,” but hoped that Krembas would provide a clearer explanation of his involvement with the property. “I’ve had several of my constituents call me. They’d like to see a resolution--either vindication or let’s put the blame where the blame is,” Wilson said, adding:

“There must be some sort of a summary of events that Mr. Krembas can share with the group so that when you call or one of my constituents calls, I can do more than say, ‘Well, I wasn’t on the board. I don’t know what went on.’ ”

Laguna Niguel Planning Commission Chairman Jim Olmsted said that he also has received numerous calls about the transaction from troubled constituents. Olmsted said he has asked for a closed session with the city attorney to discuss steps that might be taken by the commission.

At its meeting next Tuesday, the Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a proposal from Taylor Woodrow to build about 16 additional homes in the Marina Hills subdivision. The homes are proposed on land that is not part of the 99 acres in question, but Olmsted said he will ask his colleagues to delay consideration until the district attorney’s investigation is complete.

“The 99 acres have houses on them already, so it’s hard to recoup that land,” Olmsted said. “I personally would ask that Taylor Woodrow continue the timetable until we find out if we need to get back 99 acres somewhere else.”