Dear Portola Hills Neighbor,
Did you know the Baldwin Companies want to put a new 4-way intersection with traffic signals and
two gated entrances for their new developments in Portola Center at the base of the hill on
Saddleback Ranch Road? This new intersection is a mere 450 feet above the existing Glenn Ranch
intersection with Saddleback. To get a visual of where these entrances and the new intersection would
be - look for the existing curbed street entrance that's on the right side as you go downhill on
Saddleback before you reach Glenn Ranch.
If the City allows the Baldwins to build these gated entrances on Saddleback Ranch Rd, they create the
need for a new intersection with warranted traffic signals. This new intersection would create traffic
congestion where it never existed before and adversely impact the traffic flow for the 2,181 original
households of Portola Hills. All of this to serve only 280 new homes in Portola Center.
There is 900 feet of frontage on Saddleback Ranch from the Glenn Ranch intersection up to the
developed property line of our existing Portola Hills Community. There is 2,900 feet of frontage along
the NE parcel on Glenn Ranch between El Toro Road and Saddleback Ranch - that's more than 'l2
mile. The Baldwins are planning just one entrance for the NE Parcel (200 Homes) along Glenn Ranch
Rd. There is plenty of room to put both entrances for the NE parcel on Glenn Ranch rather than using
Saddleback Ranch as an entrance.
There is 600 feet of frontage on Glenn Ranch from the Saddleback Ranch intersection (going toward
Portola Pkwy) to the Whiting Park Boundary. The Baldwins can put a gated entrance along Glenn
Ranch for the NW Parcel (80 Homes) similar in design to the entrances for the Painted Trails
neighborhood on EL Toro Rd. It will mean the Baldwins will have to move some dirt that they don't
want to move and build on less lots - however they are going to end up moving a lot of dirt regardless.
The Saddleback Ranch/Glenn Ranch Intersection is the busiest intersection in the Portola Hills
community - we all know this because we live here. It will become even busier because while it is
currently a three way intersection, it will become an active four way intersection and will function as
one of the entrances to the Southern Parcel for Portola Center which currently has only 2 planned
entrances for over 626 new residences (309 Homes & 317 Class A Apartments on the current tentative
plan). Additionally, a 5-acre Sports Park will be located in the Southern Parcel across from this
intersection paralleling Glenn Ranch downhill toward Portola Parkway. This means kids and residents
will be using the cross walks there in ways and in numbers we have never seen before.
Let the City know that the traffic study data has not been adequately disclosed to our community in a
comprehensive and detailed way and that the traffic study numbers and their impact have been poorly
presented during public meetings. We as a community need total access to all traffic study data rather
than limited computer modeled simulations that confuse rather than address our concerns.
If this new intersection raises questions about traffic congestion it is crucial that you let the City know
your concerns. Email or send a letter that arrives at City Hall by the end of the day Monday July 9th.
Email Ron Santos, Senior Planner at rsantos@lakeforestca.gov
Send letters to: City of Lake Forest, Development Services Dept. c/o Ron Santos,
25550 Commercentre Dr. Suite 100, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Meetings concerning this & other issues pertaining to the Portola Center Development are
taking place at City Hall on Tuesday July 10th at 6:00 pm & Thursday the 12th at 7:00 pm.
