• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Saturday, February 4, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
San Clemente Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • Money Matters
    • Best of San Clemente
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Triton Football Preview
    • Go See Do
    • The Green Issue
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • Money Matters
    • Best of San Clemente
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Triton Football Preview
    • Go See Do
    • The Green Issue
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
San Clemente Times
No Result
View All Result

Settlement Reached in 2011 San Clemente Landslide Lawsuit

Staff by Staff
March 17, 2016 10:17AM
in EYE ON SC, News Headlines
Settlement Reached in 2011 San Clemente Landslide Lawsuit
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Lawyers, residents want area marked for ‘emergency’ so reconstruction can begin

Shorecliffs1
Anne Cole has owned her home on the 200 Block of Via Ballena for more than 40 years, but it was red-tagged after a 2011 landslide. She said she hopes to move back in some day. A “KEEP OUT” sign is posted on her front window. Photo: Eric Heinz

By Eric Heinz

The continuous crack through 88-year-old Frances Bier’s home, extending through another 11 homes on the 200 block of Via Ballena, has her concerned.

She said she doesn’t want to move and neither do her neighbors. The neighborhood fears, though, if something isn’t done soon to repair the damages from a 2011 landslide (which left homes significantly damaged or red-tagged), it could make the situation worse than it already is.

Last week, the homeowners affected by the landslide settled out of court with the city of San Clemente and Shorecliffs Golf Club.

Shorecliffs Golf Club and the city agreed to pay $10.8 million for the repairs, which would include restoring portions of the bluffs and creating a drainage pipe that doesn’t run under the homes. Currently water is flowing just past the bluff in a pipe next to the golf course. There currently is no timeline as to when construction can begin.

The city and the golf course were sued because they maintain the infrastructure, but because of the settlement no one is assuming liability.

The landslide, attorney Serge Tomassian said, was the result of a drainage pipe that built up pressure and ruptured, causing the hillside on which the homes sit to collapse.

Most of the money from the lawsuit is paid through insurance funds, according to Tomassian.

Damage to the bluffs from the landslide can be seen from the opposite side of the canyon. Photo: Eric Heinz
Damage to the bluffs from the landslide can be seen from the opposite side of the canyon. Photo: Eric Heinz

While the city and the homeowners have settled, City Engineer Bill Cameron said no work can begin until mitigation requirements—such as obtaining permitting from entities such as the California Coastal Commission and other entities—are met.

“Permits need to be obtained before construction starts,” Cameron said. “That was signed by all (involved). The city is in favor of an expedited process.”

Cameron said even if the city designated it as an emergency site, it wouldn’t remove the requirements necessary to start the project.

“(The homeowners) are working on the plans right now and trying to get the permits in place to get the project started, and hopefully when all the costs are determined they’ll be less than the settlement agreement,” Cameron said. “You still have all these other steps for the rest of the settlement agreement. Basically it comes down to that. But the city is in favor of getting the repair done as quickly as possible.”

Engineers hired by Tomassian’s law firm stated in letters from January that the site should be designated as an emergency situation due to the condition of the hillside and the possibility that heavy rains could make the situation even worse.

“The undersigned and American Geotechnical recommend that you do whatever you can to light a fire under whomever needs to have that fire lit under them to get this project underway,” a letter dated Jan. 15 from American Geotechnical’s Gregory Axten to Tomassian read. “The tragedy has been substantial to the homeowners over the last few years but will be regrettable and disproportionately worse if another episode of landslide occurs. Such an event is very possible and even likely in response to the upcoming rains.”

Ralph Jeffery, president of Pacific Coast Land Consulting, also hired by Tomassian’s firm, echoed Axten’s sentiments in another letter.

One home that was red-tagged belongs to 93-year-old Ann Cole, who moved into the home when former President Richard Nixon was in office. She said she wants to return to her home if possible.

“I really would love to get back into it, lord willing, if they get it fixed fast enough,” Cole said.

 

googl

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: city of San ClementeGolf CourseHomeownersInsurancelandslideLawsuitOrange CountySan ClementeSerge TomassianShorecliffs
ShareTweetPin
Staff

Staff

Related Posts

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

February 3, 2023
San Juan Hills Girls Basketball Bounces Back, Outduels San Clemente for South Coast League Title

San Juan Hills Girls Basketball Bounces Back, Outduels San Clemente for South Coast League Title

February 3, 2023
Marblehead Students Learn About Watersheds with Artist Wyland

Marblehead Students Learn About Watersheds with Artist Wyland

February 3, 2023
San Clemente Parent Wants to Open New Charter School in South Orange County

OC Board of Education Approves New Capo Unified Charter School

February 3, 2023
Next Post
MemorialCare Announces San Clemente Hospital to Close May 31

MemorialCare Announces San Clemente Hospital to Close May 31

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

SC Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the SC Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Dana Point Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Terms of Use
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • Money Matters
    • Best of San Clemente
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Triton Football Preview
    • Go See Do
    • The Green Issue
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media