After more than 30 years struggling to build a municipal park on 6.5 acres of public land, Lake Forest City Council members are instead moving forward with plans to build low-income housing on the lot as they aim to hit state-mandated housing goals. 

The land in Whispering Hills was gained by the city in 1999 and has remained undeveloped since then, due to a “lack of funding and community consensus,” according to a resolution passed by city council members this week. 

[Read: Lake Forest Looks to Develop Vacant Site As Affordable Housing]

At the June 16 meeting, city council members voted 4-0, with Councilmember Scott Voigts absent, to abandon the land, putting it up for sale with a deed restriction and dedicating a portion of the land to be used as park space.

Less than half of the total space – 2.5 acres – has been designated as park space, meaning that that section must be used as a park, regardless of who purchases it.

The remaining 4 acres will be developed for low-income housing, helping the city meet its income-based housing requirements from the state.

“I think this is a nice blend of trying to continue to provide some park space for the community and there’s some interest, I think, by people, but also trying to provide some affordable housing as well,” Councilmember Mark Tettemer said at the June 16 meeting.

The state requires housing to be built in cities based on the amount of residents living there and their income levels. 

According to the Department of Housing and Community Development, Orange County’s median income for a four-person family is $138,600.

Four-person OC families that make less than $148,850 annually are considered low income and very-low income if they make less than $93,050.

Under the state housing mandates, Lake Forest is required to zone for 3,236 total new housing units, with 956 designated for very low-income and 543 for low-income residents. 

As of the end of last year, only 983 total housing units had been zoned for – just around a third of the total required by 2029.

During public comment at Tuesday’s council meeting, several residents spoke up against the use of land for housing, supporting the land to be used for its original purpose – as a park.

“Ultimately, this process serves the people up on this stage far more than it served the residents down here, or any senior who actually needs affordable housing,” resident Amanda Sheek said.

“I am all for affordable housing solutions, I just couldn’t disagree more with your process to achieve that lack with this site.”

While there are still waiting periods before negotiations on the land can begin, city officials indicated that they would support a non-profit organization to help create housing specifically for elderly communities. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 15% of the city’s population is over 65 as of 2025.

“I know that I am going to push really hard for … Whispering Hills to be senior affordable and not just affordable,” said Mayor Robert Pequeño at the meeting.

The city has instituted several affordable housing projects in the past few years, including a $4.35 million project to build 50-unit affordable housing units in 2025 and a 71-unit affordable housing project in 2020.

Though there is no timeline yet established for housing to be developed, it would likely take two to three years for construction to begin, based on other similar projects’ timelines, according to Assistant City Manager Keith Neves at the meeting.

“We’ve seen so many broken promises over the years, but if, what we’ve seen, to have a park finally and make a difference in the lives of 65+ seniors who may never have a chance to live or stay in Orange County is amazing. It’s a miracle,” said Kenton Boettcher, a public commenter at the June 16 meeting.

“But it’s all up to you to ensure that happens, that we’re not, in the process, putting it up and it’s snatched away.”