Orange County supervisors have approved the Saddleback Meadows housing development in Trabuco Canyon, despite resident concerns about wildfire risk and evacuation safety. - The project was reduced from 705 to 181 homes after legal challenges.
- Residents fear congestion on the two-lane El Toro Road, the only evacuation route. - The Orange County Fire Authority confirmed the project meets fire safety codes.
- The county needs to build over 10,000 housing units by 2029 but has only zoned for 1,545 so far. The decision has sparked debate between housing needs and public safety in a high-risk fire zone.