LAGUNA NIGUEL

Nearly 100 residents of San Joaquin Hills showed up at a meeting last week to protest developer Shapell Industries’ plans to move a park site from one area to another. The change would relocate a park site, which residents say is conveniently located near already occupied homes, to a parcel of land yet to be developed near the San Joaquin Hills toll road.

Many of the homeowners contend Shapell is trying to get the zoning changes approved without the knowledge of the residents, and they expressed the need for better communication. The residents also cited the lack of recreation areas available and said that a zone change would stall the building of the park for years to come.

Shapell officials said they were at the meeting to explain what the zoning change would mean and to listen to residents’ opinions but said they would make no promises. “We didn’t come here with a park in our pocket to negotiate; we are here to listen,” said Lyle Overby, a planning consultant for Shapell. The meeting resolved little, because the decision on whether the park can be moved ultimately rests with the Planning Commission and City Council. Overby said, however, that the company would consider the sentiments of the community.