Aliso Creek presentation draws crowd

A standing-room-only crowd attended the Wednesday night Athens Group presentation of its plan for the development of its Aliso Creek property.

The presentation included slides that showed construction clustered on the property closest to Pacific Coast Highway, except for the residential lots formerly known as Driftwood Estates; an ocean-to-the-mountains trail connection, long desired by environmental groups; tennis courts and a reconfigured golf course that will remain open to the public, with preference given locals; improved water quality in Aliso Creek and the spill into the ocean at Aliso Beach; restoration of habitat and flood protection.

"We are elated about this wonderful project," Chamber of Commerce President Dave Sanford said. "It is a great addition to our jewel of an international resort destination."

Not all of the audience reaction was so positive, but no blood was drawn.

The slide presentation hewed closely to the concept introduced to the general public almost 18 months ago, Athens Group Vice President John Mansour told a crowd that overflowed from 195-Terrace Room capacity onto the adjacent, heated terrace.

"What you see is about 95% consistent with what you saw in [October] 2005," Mansour said. "Community meetings were fruitful. A few comments resonated."

Among the public comments Mansour said were taken into consideration when planning the redevelopment: