Council moves up public hearing process seeking resident input

Private property owner ValueRock Realty is applying to the City to establish a new mixed-use land use designation and zoning district for its proposed “The Gardens” on the northwest side of Marguerite Parkway and La Paz. While ValueRock’s development application is still incomplete, the City Council on March 22 voted to move the zoning aspect through the public hearing process immediately. Therefore, the Planning and Transportation Commission will consider the zoning requests on April 11, with the Council following suit in May.

“I would like to propose today that we as a City stop waiting on the developer to make up their minds and instead use our legislative powers to define the types of uses we believe would be in the best interest of Mission Viejo and its residents,” said Mayor Wendy Bucknum.

With an incomplete development application as an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and other documents are prepared, the first public hearing on the proposed project would have been several months away. Instead, Council Members unanimously approved City staff’s Recommended Action to complete the public hearing process for the zoning consideration in advance. The property is currently zoned as Office Professional, and resident input is sought to help chart the path of that designation and scope of the property zoning for the future.

“It’s important to us as a City Council that we need to do these things fairly and judiciously and evaluate them … and really ensure our residents have a front row and center seat at the table in doing so,” Mayor Bucknum said.

The Council Members agreed.

“I want to see this expedited,” Council Member Kelley said. “It has dragged on way too long.”

The Planning and Transportation Commission meets at 6:30 pm on April 11 in City Hall’s Council Chamber at 200 Civic Center. To receive updates about this project, sign up for the City’s eNewsletter and select The Gardens Mixed-use Project Application Newsletter.