{"id":313862,"date":"2026-05-13T16:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313862\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:36:13","slug":"orange-county-supervisors-reject-bid-to-stop-saddleback-meadows-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313862\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County supervisors reject bid to stop Saddleback Meadows project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having survived continued efforts to scuttle it, a decades-long plan to develop land in Trabuco Canyon into a 181-home community known as Saddleback Meadows is still moving ahead, following a decision last week<\/a> by the Orange County Board of Supervisors that was reported on by my colleague Gabriel San Rom\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a long saga for the project, which has been scaled down considerably since 1998 when it was proposed as a 705-home development over 222 acres near Live Oak Canyon and El Toro Road in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. That proposal came 18 long years after the county Board of Supervisors first zoned the site as \u201cSaddleback Meadows Planned Community.\u201d <\/p>\n

So, while it\u2019s been eyed for housing for more than 45 years, lawsuits<\/a> filed by St. Michael\u2019s Abbey, the Ramakrishna monastery and several environmental groups delayed and eventually led to the much more modest project put forth by the developer, California Quartet, which received approval of the tract map from the supervisors last June and the necessary setback permits from the county Planning Commission in January of this year.<\/p>\n

After the commission OK\u2019d the setbacks, a new appeal was filed against the project by Saddleback Canyons Conservancy and Rural Canyons Conservation, according to the TimesOC story. It was this appeal that was considered last week by the Board of Supes.<\/p>\n

The appellants maintained that such a development would endanger residents in a high wildfire hazard zone. They also had, as the names of their respective organizations suggest, additional environmental concerns over the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re asking you to hit pause on the project,\u201d Gloria Sefton, co-founder of Saddleback Canyons Conservancy, told the supervisors. \u201cLet\u2019s do the fire evacuation, the fire ignition [and] the mountain lion study. Let\u2019s get the water supply understood before we issue a use permit.\u201d <\/p>\n

A California Quartet representative, Mike Recupero, defended the project during the meeting and pointed out the appeal was specifically about the approval of the setbacks, not of the project as a whole, \u201cand not one person here commented on the setbacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior Assistant County Counsel Nicole Walsh noted that although the appellants were expressing their concerns about environmental issues, the project\u2019s environmental review, which included close looks at wildfire safety, has been updated twice in recent years. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire danger, according to the experts, has just not materialized and is not reason to stop this project,\u201d Supervisor Don Wagner said. \u201cWe need the housing in the state of California. We need the housing in Orange County. No, there\u2019s no affordable component to this, but if we build these houses \u2026 it frees up affordable housing in the rest of the rest of Orange County.\u201d Wagner represents District 3, which includes Trabuco Canyon.<\/p>\n

The majority of Wagner\u2019s colleagues ultimately agreed. The final vote was 4-0 to deny the appeal, with Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento abstaining.<\/p>\n

MORE NEWS \"A <\/p>\n

A screenshot of the conceptual rendering for the residential towers at the Newport Beach site where the Big Newport movie theater will be removed.<\/p>\n

(Screenshot by Gabriel San Rom\u00e1n)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Although the recent approved demolition of the vintage Big Newport<\/a> movie theater to develop it into twin towers of condominiums was appealed by a member of the public, the City Council last week denied the appeal<\/a>, paving the way for the residential project to move forward.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The city of Laguna Beach has banned the sale of glue traps<\/a> \u2014 devices designed to capture insects and rodents by means of an adhesive substance \u2014 and their use on public property. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) campaigned for the cause and proclaims on its website<\/a> Laguna Beach is the fifth U.S. city to adopt such a ban.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ken Frank, who for 31 years was the top executive at Laguna Beach City Hall, serving as city manager from 1979 to 2010, passed away May 3<\/a>, according to his family. He was 82.<\/p>\n

BUSINESS \"Rodeo <\/p>\n

Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton welcomes a lineup of culinary concepts to the food hall and community hub. <\/p>\n

(Courtesy of Rodeo 39 Public Market)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Visitors to Rodeo 39 Public Market, a food hall in Stanton, will find a host of new places to dine<\/a>, as the original five-year leases came to an end. \u201cIn today\u2019s fast-moving world where folks are always looking for what\u2019s new and fresh, it\u2019s important to be able to bring new ideas, new energy, and the next wave of concepts that keep people coming back,\u201d Rodeo 39\u2019s developer, Dan Almquist, stated in a news release. <\/p>\n

PUBLIC SAFETY<\/p>\n

\u2022 A 13-year-old boy who had been riding an e-motorcycle at about 35 mph died at a hospital after losing control of the bike<\/a> and crashing into a median in Garden Grove just before 10 p.m. last Thursday. In related news, Amazon announced it would stop selling high-speed e-bikes in California<\/a> after a spate of fatal collisions.<\/p>\n

\u2022 On Tuesday, arraignment was postponed until June 30 for Aliso Viejo resident Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, who is facing involuntary manslaughter and other charges for allegedly permitting her 14-year-old son to ride an e-motorcycle that fatally struck an 81-year-old man in April. Prosecutors contend Mejer allowed her son to use the motorized cycle despite being warned of its dangers, City News Service reports.<\/p>\n

\u2022 A 26-year-old British man was arrested by Laguna Beach police early Saturday morning after he allegedly punched and seriously injured a 23-year-old<\/a> who had been walking home from a business when he and two of his friends got into an argument with the visitor and another man in an alley off South Coast Highway. <\/p>\n

SPORTS \"Costa <\/p>\n

Costa Mesa High School\u2019s girls\u2019 swim team smile and pose with the CIF Championship Division 3 plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 3 swim finals at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Friday, May 8.<\/p>\n

(James Carbone)<\/p>\n

\u2022 For the first time in the program\u2019s history<\/a>, the girls\u2019 swim team at Costa Mesa High won the CIF Championship on Friday at Mt. San Antonio College.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Also making big splashes in the Mt. Sac pool were Fountain Valley High junior Allyssa Ton and Newport Harbor High senior Connor Ohl, who both became repeat champions at the CIF Division 1 swim finals. <\/p>\n

\u2022 The Angels fell to their 16th loss in 21 games<\/a> Monday in road game against the Cleveland Guardians. The score was 7-2.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Last night the Ducks<\/a> and Vegas Golden Knights met in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup playoff series, with the outcome unavailable by this newsletter\u2019s deadline. The Ducks prevailed 4-3<\/a> in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals to even the series at 2-2 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

LIFE & LEISURE \"Donna <\/p>\n

Donna McNutt, a City of Hope cancer survivor, dances by the mural \u201cThe Long Run\u201d by Bumble Bee Loves You, in which she is featured, part of a installation art work called \u201cHope is a Rising Tide\u201d sponsored by City Of Hope Orange County at the Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach.<\/p>\n

(James Carbone)<\/p>\n

\u2022 The four-story parking structure at Lido Marina Village has become a canvas for muralists under a partnership between the shopping and dining mecca and City of Hope. The overall message of the art installation is \u201cHope is a Rising Tide.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2022 A new bench honoring former President Theodore Roosevelt, known for his keen interest in environmental stewardship, was unveiled<\/a> last Thursday outside of the Bolsa Chica Conservancy Interpretive Center. The Huntington Beach City Council recently declared May 7 to be Theodore Roosevelt Day in the city, the date chosen because May 7, 1903 was the first day the then-sitting president visited California.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Yorba Linda resident Becky Yount, a fitness instructor who will turn 70 in July, was named one of three nationwide finalists as a SilverSneakers Instructor of the Year<\/a> for her work with senior participants at 24 Hour Fitness locations. SilverSneakers<\/a> is available at no cost for people ages 65 and up in some Medicare plans.<\/p>\n

CALENDAR \""Granddaughter <\/p>\n

\u201cGranddaughter of a Wetback\u201d by Nataly Barajas, first place winner at Brea Gallery\u2019s \u201cMade in California\u201d show. <\/p>\n

(Courtesy of Brea Gallery)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Brea Gallery\u2019s annual juried \u201cMade in California\u201d <\/a>exhibit is on view until June 28 at Brea Gallery, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea. For details, visit breaartgallery.com<\/a>. This year\u2019s first place winner is Nataly Barajas, for her piece, \u201cGranddaughter of a Wetback\u201d (2025).<\/p>\n

\"Wild <\/p>\n

Wild Rivers Waterpark opens for the season on May 16.<\/p>\n

(Courtesy of Wild Rivers Waterpark)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Wild Rivers Waterpark, 10000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, opens for the season this Saturday<\/a>. The 2026 regular operating season ends on Sept. 7. For tickets and season passes, visit wildrivers.com<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"Newport <\/p>\n

Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival will feature a grand tasting of wine, spirits and a \u201cBlanc on the Bay\u201d party. <\/p>\n

(Courtesy of Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival)<\/p>\n

\u2022 The three-day Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival<\/a> is coming up at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach and will run from May 22 to May 24. All events taking place throughout the festival are for adults only, 21+. For tickets and additional information, visit balboabayresort.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

KEEP IN TOUCH
We appreciate your help in making this the best newsletter it can be. Please send news tips, your memory of life in O.C. (photos welcome!) or comments to carol.cormaci@latimes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Having survived continued efforts to scuttle it, a decades-long plan to develop land in Trabuco Canyon into a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313863,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164,9350,58123,6946,1583,588,58120,4840,58121,58122,35412,3226,12382,58124,8074],"class_list":["post-313862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news","tag-coast","tag-costa-mesa-angler","tag-course","tag-hospital","tag-huntington-beach","tag-large-all-electric-hospital","tag-power","tag-single-life","tag-surf-city","tag-uc-irvine","tag-unit","tag-visitor","tag-wildlife-sanctuary","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}