Laguna Niguel council approves La Paz Road repair with roundabouts and separated bike lanes, citing landslide mitigation

The Laguna Niguel City Council on Oct. 21 unanimously approved the community-preferred alternative for the La Paz Road Mobility Enhancements and Permanent Repair Project, directing staff to proceed with final design and to file a notice of exemption under CEQA.

Public Works Director Scott told the council the project limits extend from Aliso Creek Road south to Crown Valley Parkway and that work is aimed at mitigating an active landslide area near the regional park and restoring full roadway use. “The La Paz Road Mobility Enhancements and Permanent Repair Project aims to mitigate the landslide and reopen and restore the roadway to full use,” Scott said.

The city received $15,500,000 in federal and state grant funding for the project and supplemented that with the city’s reserves; Mayor Genaway said the total cost will be “just under $20,000,000,” with about $15.5 million from the grant and roughly $4 million from the city budget. The council voted 5‑0 to adopt the staff recommendation.

Key elements approved: the project will restore two vehicular travel lanes, incorporate class 4 on‑street separated bikeways, pedestrian and landscape improvements, and include roundabouts at La Paz Road intersections with Yosemite Road and Rancho Niguel Road. The staff report and consultant Mark Thomas and Company recommended shifting the roadway eastward away from the landslide, lowering the southbound side by up to six feet near the slide, and retaining a 20‑foot travel lane width to meet fire authority standards.

Project design and outreach: Pat Somerville, project manager for Mark Thomas, told the council the PAED (project alternatives and environmental documentation) phase included two bicyclist alternatives (a Class I multiuse path and Class IV separated lanes) and two intersection alternatives (roundabouts or a signalized Rancho Niguel intersection). The city’s outreach included two community meetings, an online survey with 436 responses (96% Laguna Niguel residents), postcard mailings to approximately 2,000 addresses, and targeted HOA and stakeholder meetings. The online survey showed a 66% preference for class 4 separated bike lanes and a 60% preference for roundabouts at the two intersections.

Safety rationale: Kathy Kelly, the city’s engineering services manager and traffic engineer, summarized national data on roundabouts: “The safety benefits of a roundabout include a reduction in fatal crashes by 90 percent … and a reduction in 60 percent of injury crashes,” she said, citing Federal Highway Administration data and noting roundabouts reduce intersection conflict points.

Environmental finding and next steps: staff recommended the council find the project categorically exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities) and 15304 (minor alterations to land) and directed staff to prepare, execute and file a notice of exemption with the county clerk and State Clearinghouse within five working days. The council also directed staff to release a request for proposals for final design services and to advance 35% design plans for the approved alternative.

What it means for residents: the approved approach aims to address long‑term slope stability while improving bicyclist and pedestrian connectivity and calming vehicle speeds through roundabouts. Staff indicated the next formal deliverables are 35% design plans, then final design and right‑of‑way work prior to construction.

Vote: motion by Council Member Winstead, seconded by Council Member Otto; carried unanimously 5 to 0.