City Wants a Voice in Courthouse Plans

City officials have had their eyes on the property now occupied by the Municipal Court, and they plan to tell their counterparts in Orange County that they’d like to buy it if the county moves the court.

The county has been mulling over whether to expand the court at Alicia and Crown Valley parkways or relocate the whole complex.

Laguna Niguel has identified the area in its General Plan as a future civic center site. Mayor Patricia C. Bates said specific planning for the complex is about five years away.

If the county moves the courthouse, the city would like an opportunity to purchase the property. Otherwise, Laguna Niguel would like to have input into what type of business would eventually be located there, Bates said.

“We’d like to be given the first priority,” she said. “If they expand the courthouse, we’d like to have a voice in the process to make sure it is complementary with our plans for a civic center.”

The county recently moved a Sheriff’s Department substation from the courthouse complex to Aliso Viejo and is considering putting a new South County courthouse nearby.