Portola Hills

What Can I do Today? Blog Contact Us Vital Information More Pictures

Video of Meetings (coming Soon)

Portola Hills wants responsible development and nothing less

This is the vision Baldwin has for the Future of Portola Hills!

Their vision of a beautiful (profitable) AND FLATTENED landscape!

The Great Walled City of Portola Center

In meeting with the city Planning Commission on July 12 Stephen Haase, senior vice present of Baldwin and Sons and lead on the project to build on Portola Center 2 site gave an eloquent presentation over one hour in length.

Almost exclusively the subject of this presentation was the walls that they were to build. He boasted that they had over 100 different designs that they could show to the planners of walls that they would be using on the property. He spoke of small walls, big walls, medium size and large. He spoke of walls being hidden from view and walls that would be masked, and walls that would be beautiful with a sense of aesthetics. He spoke of wall sections of 35 feet in height and one should assume that by sections that there would be more than 1 section used in any given location so even at a minimum this would be 70 – 105 feet in overall height. Though there was a brief mention of some homes of some kind being built the topic of the night was walls, walls, and more walls.

This to me raises many questions some simple but some of deeper more troubling issues. Why so many walls. If you read of the new guidelines of the city on walls you would get the clear sense of one thing. The city does not want or like them. To go so far as to write a whole section of policy prohibitions shows the commitment of the city, reacting to their own sense of aesthetics of course but also to the will of the people. Yet the developer of this project seems to have ignored this sensitive issue and instead is determined to build his own private community of walls.

It was clearly expressed that it is there is no desire to become part of the community that is Portola Hills or the community at large that is our city of Lake Forest that we as residents love as “our community”. The concept presented was one of a walled separate and gated city. One has to question if all of the walls and the gates proposed are to keep out the residents of the “lower” residential section with its apartment dwellers and convenience stores that the builder himself has put in place as part of the design of an unequal and separate class of residents in his grand design of his walled city. Maybe it will be a good place for those who serve those behind the gates. They could look up in awe and envy.

More disturbing than this is the necessity for these walls. Why are so many walls, and why so much emphasis on them and why are there so many different designs for walls. The answer is simple. Without walls, and hundreds of them the property would simply collapse and wash away with the first rains with what is proposed.

The land is not suited to what is proposed unless you are only looking at it as a way to make some quick money and get out as Baldwin has done here in this city in the past. If the property were looked at without any financial considerations of how much was paid for it and how much profit can be made by someone who is less influenced by how to maintain their own lifestyles, and more concerned about doing what is ethical and right for “we the people” of this community, I believe that the concept for development of this property would be substantially changed to something that would be welcomed by our great community of Lake Forest.

Though we treasure our blend of rural / country / city we feel responsible development is possible at this location and we know it will happen. But, we urge you not at the cost of “community”, community safety and plain common sense.

We as the residents clearly remember who is selling this Fantasyland to the city

Allowing Baldwin to “responsibly” develop and maintain “in perpetuity” (in the words of Stephen Haase, senior vice present of Baldwin and Sons) is tantamount to allowing the 9/11 bombers to develop and rebuild the world trade center.

Baldwin originally developed the homes slopes, drainage, and all other parts of the Portola Hills development. I am certain that if the city council take the time to examine the record of their promises to the city at that time they are using the same words that they use today, a promise to build with responsibility, expertise, and offering their commitment to build a quality “in perpetuity” sustainable community. This was a lie.

Lest we forget that Baldwin in 1994 abandoned this same community that they vowed to sustain. Though issues of drainage, roofing, and endless major building and code violations plagued and continue to plague the neighborhoods it seems that the city and we are simply supposed to forget history.

I am not sure if the city just has amnesia, they have simply chosen to forget what the Baldwin’s did or just love the abusive relationship. Neither the city nor Baldwin even cares to acknowledge that there has been no responsibility in the past. They seem to expect that Baldwin have now reformed their ways that they go to church and wear a halo.

History repeats itself unless you chose to break the cycle. This is just a proven fact and there is no defense. If Baldwin had taken responsibility then or choses to take responsibility now for what they have done here in Portola Hills in the past, I am sure that the tone (and development they are proposing) would be different.

Remember, that through the Bankruptcy process the Baldwin’s were able to somehow hold onto their personal fortunes and just let those who bought from them suffer the consequences of their irresponsibility. While we, the city, their investors (and several Wall Street firms) suffered from their irresponsibility their …”posh family homes in exclusive Emerald Bay, the 100-acre Wyoming ranch and vacation haciendas in Cabo San Lucas, the yacht and stable of off-road racing cars all appear safe as Al and Jim steer their Baldwin Co. through the tricky waters of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.” (Source Los Angeles Times)

Quoting the same article it further go on to say “Although the Baldwin’s aren't talking about their fortunes, others in the building industry who have watched the brothers with varying degrees of awe and envy since the bond issue say that the brothers have not changed their personal lives--even as their businesses have defaulted on millions of dollars in loans and have been sued for non-payment by subcontractors and suppliers.

"I've been in this business around here for many years, and I know that in the last four or five years nobody has made any money," said one longtime Orange County home builder who would speak only on the condition that he not be identified. "We've all had to make adjustments in our personal life styles, except for the Baldwin’s. And we all talk about them and wonder how they are doing it."

These are the same people that we are being asked to again believe “in perpetuity”. The city should consider the old adage well that history will prove out:

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me

If the city chooses to continue to believe that this time they mean it, they should make them at least do a bit of a 12 step program and make a mends. Oh and by the way maybe an apology, but I guess that is unnecessary as they are now reformed, maybe they went to rehab.

About Us

Portola Hills is a beautiful place where we all live and enjoy a mix of being close (but not too close) to everything while maintaining a quiet almost country feel. There is an ACCEPTED PROPOSAL to build over 900 HOMES, APARTMENTS, and CONDOS (adding 1/3 more homes than we currently have!)on all of the land currently below Portola Hills leveling (see the picture) all the way to El Toro Road and all the way to Whiting Ranch and all of the undeveloped land in front of Saddleback road as well!

We can NOT stop the development of this property but can help the builder understand that they must consider our input and DEVELOP RESPONSIBLY to our concerns.

We are all in this together – and we are glad you are visiting our site. This is our online meeting place, where we organize our activities, share ideas, and publicize our mission. We have to face facts:

The City has approved as many as 930 homes plus "mixed use" ( this can mean almost anything from a 7 / 11 or liquor store to beautiful carefully selected retail shops) PLUS commercial development of the land adjacent to Glen Ranch Road and Saddleback Ranch Road all the way to the very edges (and touching) Whiting Ranch Preserve and Clear to El Toro road!

Baldwin owns the property
Baldwin will build what they can unless we can help them to make responsible choices that might minimize traffic crime and other concerns we all have.
We all must INDIVIDUALLY write to the city (use the email form here to help support the voice of responsibility when development is done) but we MUST DO THIS IN SOME WRITTEN FORM FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY AS "IN THE PUBLIC RECORD" and of concern to the citizens of Portola Hills

Our Work

We work together to make our cause known, to reach out to other groups who share our vision. Whether you’re ready to lend a hand at one of our activities or have photos or articles to share about a recent event, here’s the place to do it.

Join Us