EPS played a key role in the 2020 update of the Lake Forest General Plan and creation of mixed-use zoning districts, two successful planning efforts that will guide the city’s growth and development for years to come. The General Plan was approved by the City Council and subsequently won the 2021 APA Orange County Comprehensive Plan of the Year. The City retained EPS again in 2022 to support the Council’s ultimate approval of a Zoning Code Amendment establishing mixed-use development policies in five transitioning areas, as promoted and explained on the City’s website (including a FAQ).
EPS provided analysis and findings on baseline socioeconomic and real estate market trends to inform community/stakeholder consideration of long-term growth prospects and achievable development typologies. EPS also developed an interactive model that compared the fiscal implications of various Plan Alternatives on the City’s General Fund budget. For the mixed-use zoning code update, EPS evaluated the financial feasibility of redevelopment typologies (including residential, retail, office, and hotel) at key opportunity sites.
