Ranch influence rejected

The agency that decides Orange County annexations recently denied Costa Mesa’s request for a sphere of influence in the largely undeveloped Banning Ranch area. Both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach hope to someday annex pieces of the area’s more than 400 acres along the Santa Ana River and West Coast Highway.

The Orange County Local Agency Forming Committee’s denial Tuesday of Costa Mesa’s desire to have influence over parts of the area further weakens the city’s flagging hopes for annexation. Meanwhile, Newport Beach is unwilling to give up any of the influence it has over the area and already has plans to develop housing in parts of Banning Ranch included as part of the city’s housing element.

Two parcels of Banning Ranch — the Santa Ana Country Club and a neighborhood south of Mesa Drive — are slated for eventual annexation to Costa Mesa. Residents, however, have applied to annex to Newport.

“There’s already about 30 acres we anticipate will eventually become part of the city,” Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau said. “We really don’t know when — it depends upon the developers. They have expressed an interest in being annexed, but we’re unsure on what that timing might be.”

Efforts to reach attorney George Basye, who represents the owner of Banning Ranch, Aera Energy, were unsuccessful Thursday. Aera is one of California’s largest gas and oil producers.

Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, who also serves on the Local Agency Forming Committee, said he has yet to hear of any definite plans for Newport Beach to annex the land. It could benefit real estate developers to build on the land before it’s annexed, he said.

“I haven’t seen an application (for annexation), and I don’t think the developer is in any hurry,” Moorlach said. “It’s easier to work with the county than it is with the city.”

Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder said he was pleased with the dialogue at the meeting, even if the outcome wasn’t precisely what the city had hoped for.

“I think LAFCO did everything that they could within the law,” he said. “Banning Ranch is a bit of a unique circumstance because, while it is an unincorporated area, it is totally surrounded by a one-foot scrap of land in Newport Beach, so LAFCO could not have approved Costa Mesa’s application without the full cooperation and support of the city of Newport Beach.”

Roeder added he hoped the constructive dialogue would continue, and felt concerns about the various effects the ranch’s development might mean for Costa Mesa were adequately considered.

“We have developed a very good working relationship with the leadership of Banning Ranch, and we’ve had a very good dialogue with them,” he said. “They’ve been very, very thoughtful about our concerns and interests relative to the property, and I do believe that that dialogue will continue.”

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com. CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.