Barbara DiamondAn informal coalition of local environmental...

Barbara Diamond

An informal coalition of local environmental and civic groups quietly

joined forces last fall vowing to speak on behalf of possibly

endangered open space.

Voices of the Wilderness is the coalition’s “slogan,” members say.

“We are the voice for that which has no voice,” said Mary Fegraus,

a coalition member who is executive director of the Laguna Canyon

Foundation.

Coalition members want to have their voice heard on the future of

the area’s open space in the wake of the purchase of Aliso Canyon by

Montage Resort & Spa.

They say the issues go far beyond Aliso Canyon.

“It’s just a gathering of people who became concerned about the

potential of development in Aliso Canyon that would intrude into

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park,” Fegraus said.

The coalition includes the foundation, Laguna Greenbelt Inc., the

Laguna Canyon Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, South Laguna Civic

Association, Village Laguna, Sierra Club, California Native Plant

Society, Sea & Sage Audubon and the Organization of Regional Coastal

Advocates. The groups meet informally. There are no officers, no

regular meeting dates, no dues.

Although speculation is rife, no plans have been announced for

development Aliso Canyon, which includes Aliso Creek Inn and Golf

Course, but developer Athens Group has held exploratory talks with

the county.

“Once we have identified a plan for the land use, we’ll be happy

to work with all stakeholders in a very public process,” Athens Group

Vice President John Mansour said.

Aliso Canyon is part of parkland dedicated to the county in

mitigation for Aliso Viejo Co. development. It is included in the

Natural Communities Conservation Program, which also includes the

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

“The idea of VOW is simply to preserve that parkland,” Laguna

Canyon Conservancy President Carolyn Wood said.

Wood said she became concerned about the possibility of

development in the parkland as soon as she heard that Montage had

purchased the property.

“An intrusion would set a precedent of violating the integrity of

preserved open space,” Fegraus said. “If some public agency can come

in and change land use, it makes it hard for us. It puts our

credibility in question.”

Fegraus said the coalition is not looking to wage war; it is

looking for a peaceful solution.

To that end, the foundation and the Greenbelt hired environmental

consultant Claire Schlotterbeck to speak for them.

“We have no plan of attack,” Schlotterbeck said. “We are working

together. We want to communicate our interests and what we would like

to see happen.”

Schlotterbeck said VOW is hoping to get every environmental group

in the county involved in the project.

Environmentalists and city officials have not been included in the

exploration of development options for the golf course property

discussed by the county and Athens Group, the developer partner of

Montage Resort & Spa, which owns the property.

Concerned that the city would be presented with a fait accompli

without local participation, Mayor Pro Tem Steven Dicterow proposed a

City Council subcommittee, on which he serves with Councilwoman Toni

Iseman, to communicate with Montage and Athens Group.

The subcommittee has met privately once with representatives of

the property owners and Dicterow said they plan to meet about every

six weeks.

“I do not think the concerns will stay local,” Iseman said.

Carole Hoffman, a spokeswoman for Athens, said the firm is aware

of the sensitive nature of the land proposed for development.

“We take very seriously our stewardship of the natural resources

we oversee and those adjacent to our property,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman, who worked for the Irvine Co. during its negotiations with

the city for the purchase of the Laguna Laurel property in Laguna

Canyon, consults with Athens Group on community issues and media

relations for long and short term projects.

A historical slide and music show, “Thirty Years and Counting:

Saving Aliso Creek and Aliso Canyon,” will be featured at the annual

Greenbelt meeting on Feb. 24.

Greenbelt board member and landscape architect Bob Borthwick will

narrate the show, first prepared in 1974 as part of a study of the

creek and canyon, before the regional park was created. Borthwick

helped create the show.

To volunteer time or money or for more information, visit

https://www.savealisocanyon.org or attend the Greenbelt Annual

Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 24 at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, 286 St.

Ann’s Drive. Admission is free. Reservations not required.