LAGUNA HILLS
A cityhood advocate from Aliso Viejo formally asked the City Council last week to withdraw its application to annex 340 acres of the planned community, but the council still plans to go ahead with the annexation.
The council voted unanimously to annex the property in November, a month after Aliso Viejo filed to incorporate. Recently, an official from the Local Agency Formation Commission, the state agency that oversees the formations and annexation of cities, has told cityhood advocates that without the land, Aliso Viejo can not financially survive as a city. Don White, assistant city manager for Laguna Hills, said he doesn’t understand how that assumption has been made.
“I think it’s inappropriate to make that judgment right now,” White said. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
White said the council hasn’t changed its mind to annex the land, but wants to encourage residents living in the affected areas to attend a community workshop with the agency next month. Residents will be able to tell the seven-member board which city they want to belong to. The agency will vote on both proposals Aug. 18.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Aug. 8, at Wood Canyon Elementary School, 23431 Knollwood Ave., Aliso Viejo. Information: (949) 707-2600.
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