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La Habra council approves fencing of drainage easement near Las Lomas Park after resident safety complaints
Summary
Council approved an encroachment license permitting fencing of a drainage easement adjacent to Las Lomas Park (near 770 Durham St.) after residents detailed burglaries, firearms incidents and loitering. Staff estimated initial vinyl fence installation at about $10,000 and retained city right of entry for maintenance.
The La Habra City Council voted unanimously on May 18 to approve an encroachment license agreement that will allow a vinyl fence and gate to close public access through a city-owned drainage easement adjacent to Las Lomas Park, at and near 770 Durham Street.
City staff (speaker 13) told council the easement was originally intended for drainage and is not ADA-compliant; it has nonetheless been used as an informal access to the park. Staff said the proposed agreement would grant limited side-yard use to the adjacent property owner while preserving a permanent right of entry for city maintenance and would carry an initial installation cost of about $10,000.
Several residents who live adjacent to the easement testified in favor of closure. One resident (speaker 14) described multiple incidents captured on cameras, including burglaries, suspects tossing firearms over fences, and a shooting captured on a Ring camera. Jessica Yepes (speaker 15), who identified herself as a resident and a former Los Angeles Police Department detective, said: “Closing this easement is a proactive common sense step. It would reduce opportunities for criminal activities...and help restore the peace of mind that families in this neighborhood deserve.”
Mayor (speaker 2) and multiple council members framed the proposed fencing as an environmental-design public-safety intervention and noted alternate access to the park via the main entrance on Euclid Street. After council discussion a motion to approve the encroachment license was made and the council voted to carry the motion unanimously.
