Council rejects Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone map and designates a Special Fire Protection area

The City Council on Monday adopted a Special Fire Protection Area within Mission Viejo rather than the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps.

The City is mandated by state law to designate by ordinance Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The zones were recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and will impact portions of the City’s eastern boundary and areas north of the 241 toll road and near El Toro Road. However, the Orange County Fire Authority determined the City can make the findings necessary to reject the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps by demonstrating it has equivalent or better vegetation and construction standards in place prior to 1992.  The City Council on Monday agreed.

The Special Fire Protection Area incorporates the very high, high, and moderate fire hazard severity zones areas into one map.  Only the City (for new home construction) and Orange County Fire Authority (for “Ready, Set, Go!” education program) would use this information.  Some benefits to the Special Fire Protection Area are that it eliminates the state’s record of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation for Mission Viejo as well as the state’s vegetation clearance and fines, and does away with the state’s real estate disclosure requirements for homeowners.

Neighborhoods included in the proposed Special Fire Protection Area are Aliso Villas, Ashton Court, Auburn Ridge, Califia, California Court, Canyon Estates, Casta del Sol, Cordova, Coronado, Eastbrook, El Mirador, Emerald Point, Evergreen Ridge, Greystone, Highland Park, Hillcrest, Mission Viejo Environmental, Mission Sunrise Ridge, Oso Valley Greenbelt, Pacific Hills, Pacific Knolls, Painted Trails, Palmia, Pinecrest, Quail Run, Rainbow Ridge, Stoneridge, and Terrace View.

A copy of the Special Fire Protection Area map is available at http://cityofmissionviejo.org/viewdocument.aspx?id=18720.