Commission recommends city council approve General Plan amendment to match OCTA arterial map changes

The Planning Commission on June 5 voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of a General Plan amendment that updates the city’s Mobility Network map to reflect an Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways amendment reclassifying two segments of El Toro Road.

Jennifer Mansour, who presented the item, said Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) reviewed traffic forecasts to 2050 and concluded the roadway segments did not warrant the prior planned widening. "The proposed downgrade of the classifications is consistent with the current built configuration of El Toro Road," Mansour said, and noted the county and Mission Viejo public‑works departments consented to the amendment.

Mansour told commissioners OCTA’s approval is contingent on affected jurisdictions updating their general plans. The change would modify two sections of El Toro Road within Lake Forest from "major arterial" to "primary arterial," and the draft resolution includes a revised Mobility Network figure showing the proposed reclassification.

Commissioners asked about the frequency of OCTA reviews and were told jurisdictions may propose amendments at any time and the county initiated this change. "At any time if we decide to, through a CIP project or something, make a change to an arterial road, we would then propose our own amendment," Mansour said.

The commission closed the public hearing with no public comment and unanimously approved a resolution recommending City Council adoption of the General Plan amendment.