LAKE FOREST

A group of Lake Forest merchants has started an association to fight the city’s plans to rezone the El Toro Redevelopment Project Area.

“We feel that we are not being regarded as an important part of Lake Forest,” said Veronica Dickenson, chairwoman of the Lake Forest Commercial and Industrial Business Assn., formed last week. The group will represent more than 20 businesses and property owners in the affected 856-acre area.

The proposed redevelopment plan for the area, located along both sides of El Toro Road between Interstate 5 and Trabuco Road, would offer new design guidelines. Rezoning plans would impose restrictions on future construction, and the type of businesses allowed, in order to give the older area a face lift.

Dickenson said merchants are concerned about the expenses involved with complying with the potential new guidelines. They also claim the city did not properly inform the affected businesses about the changes.

City officials said that businesses within the proposed area were notified by mail but did not take the opportunity to be involved in the early planning process of the project.