San Juan Capistrano City Council Elects Plan For Northwest Open Space

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — After months of deliberation, the City of San Juan Capistrano has voted on what to do with the undeveloped part of the city's Northwest Open Space, the Orange County Register reported.

The development comes after city council members unanimously voted to move forward for a development project called Legacy Ranch, submitted by San Juan Capistrano-based developer Dan Almquist, representing Frontier Real Estate Investments.

Council members selected Almquist's proposal out of the several that were submitted, with the goals of turning the Northwest Open Space into a place the community can enjoy passively and respecting the cultural significance the land holds to the area's Indigenous community.

Now, the city will move forward with lease negotiations for the development of Legacy Ranch. Almquist, according to the OC Register, aims to work out a 30-year agreement for the site.

The proposed Legacy Ranch's expansive design on the 65.5-acre property calls for four "core" spaces, according to a city staff report. The four spaces include a hospitality sector, likely to include pop-up restaurants, as well as an agricultural space; a recreational hub; and a full equestrian facility.

To read more about the future of San Juan Capistrano's Northwest Open Space, view the full article on the Orange County Register.