MISSION VIEJO In front of a standing-room-only audience, the City Council approved a report with three different concept designs for the aging Village Center, which sits on Marguerite Parkway just south of La Paz Road.
Tuesday night’s presentation by SWA Group was part of the Vision Plan process, which has included workshops to get residents’ feedback on various ideas to revitalize the city’s core.
The City Council didn’t vote on any of the three proposed concepts aimed at connecting the civic center and the area that comprises the Village Center with Oso Creek. They approved the report, and could use the concepts as baselines for upcoming discussions.
“Let’s find out what we can create here,” Councilman Brian Goodell said. “If we don’t take the leadership role and see what we can create, then nothing is going to happen. It’s been that way for almost 50 years….We have a great opportunity right now to take the next step on this project.”
The first concept displayed an enhanced relationship between the Village Center and Oso Creek by maintaining the current form of the center while adding two new buildings, most likely creek-facing restaurants with patio seating.
The second concept aimed to create a Main Street feel, adding creek-facing restaurants, new retail shops, a town green, an amphitheater along the creek and a pair of parking structures at a current parking area, according to a draft design. This option would also include some creek restoration and a new trail.
The final concept would turn the aging center into a next-generation village and would incorporate the space along Marguerite north of La Paz Road.
This design incorporates a larger town green, parking structures, new retail and restaurants and turns the center into a series of intersecting walkable streets. This plan also includes creek restoration, new trails and an amphitheater along the creek.
Residents and community members who spoke said the near 50-year old center does need some sprucing up, but some said they would not like to see the city start building upwards, adding that they prefer Mission Viejo’s small-town feel.
“I love the way the community feels,” Sheila Edmond, a 25-year resident, told the council. “I’d hate to see any big development. I’m opposed to going up vertically.”
Those opposed to the bigger development concept said they feared the increased traffic that would be coming in and out of the center.
Others, like 30-year resident Eric Chastain, said they would like to see the center turn into a destination spot for families.
“I’d love to see a place where you can go and spend an evening, see a movie, have dinner,” he said. “Anybody thinking about today is being selfish. It’s about our kids and our kids’ kids.”
Responding to those concerns, council members and SWA Group representatives reassured residents that no new housing is proposed for the space, though some ideas included having office space on top of retail shops.
“This is not a regulatory document, it has no changes to zoning proposed…and there’s no housing proposed,” said Elaine Lister, the city’s director of community development. “It respects property rights, it’s not telling anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. It’s simply a vision.”
The designs were the culmination of months of community outreach, which included three community workshops, pop-up outreach at city events, a survey, online and youth outreach.
Councilmembers said they’ve been in contact with most of the business owners at the existing center and are viewing this process with a goal in mind to help those businesses create more revenue.
“They are involved and they do want some participation from us…to improve their businesses,” Councilman Greg Raths said.
ILLEGAL NOTICES PLACED
On Tuesday, some residents came with fliers that were placed on cars and businesses at the Village Center sometime before Sunday.
The anonymous fliers had“Public Notice” in large letters at the top and said the City Council would be discussing the Vision Plan at Tuesday’s meeting.
They said the center may make way for high density housing, depending on the city’s voting.
Councilwoman Trish Kelley said business owners at the center thought the fliers were posted by the city.
“These fliers…are untrue, destructive and had half the city upset and riled up,” Councilwoman Trish Kelley said.
Mayor Wendy Bucknum asked the city staff to work with business owners to see if they can identify those who placed the notices through surveillance cameras.
City Attorney Bill Curley said legal action could take place if the business owners can demonstrate loss or damages.
CITY TO HOLD MEMORIAL FOR LONGTIME VOLUNTEER
Ziggy Wilczynski, nicknamed “Mr. Mission Viejo” by Councilwoman Kelley and a longtime volunteer in the city of Mission Viejo, died March 21 at the age of 95.
The city will hold a memorial service for Wilczynski at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 1-3 p.m. April 8.
Wilcyznski, who moved to Mission Viejo in 1971, was a former employee of the Mission Viejo Company and helped build the community, city officials said. He worked on projects with the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, Cultural Heritage Association, the Heritage Committee and the Mission Viejo recreation centers, among others.
He also was a longtime volunteer at the library, beginning when it opened in 1997 and he kept the city’s history alive by creating displays on the Olympics and local sports stars, community parks and facilities and the city’s armed forces heroes, officials said.
Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com
