City Becomes Owner of Its Canyon
LAGUNA BEACH — With a first payment of $33 million, the city on Thursday attained ownership of the first 1,277 acres of future parkland in Laguna Canyon from the Irvine Co.
To commemorate the land transfer, Supervisor Thomas F. Riley and Laguna Beach Mayor Neil G. Fitzpatrick received a symbolic grant deed in Laguna Canyon from Irvine Co. vice president Carol Hoffman. A few hours earlier, documents were recorded with the county that made the sale official.
The sale was the first step in a plan for 2,150 scenic canyon acres to be acquired for park uses if sufficient money is raised to pay for the entire $78-million purchase. A celebration to mark the first land transfer is planned for tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Main Beach Park in Laguna Beach by Friends of the Canyon.
That community group headed efforts to buy Laguna Canyon acreage from the Irvine Co., which had originally planned to build 3,200 homes there.
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