What Aliso Viejo is about to decide

The council meets Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 12 Journey. The agenda carries three public hearings and lists no discussion items and no closed session. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. Every item links to the official record.

Source: official agenda · Remote participation instructions: avcity.org · Next regular meeting: October 21, 2026, 7 p.m.

🏘 Public hearing: 58 townhomes at 15 Argonaut

• Environmental review. Adopt a resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (CEQA-2026-01004) for the project, located at 15 Argonaut (APN: 623-093-10 & 623-093-11). The attachments include the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and a response to comments. Item 5.3
• General Plan amendment. Adopt a resolution approving an amendment (GPA-2026-01002) to the General Plan land use designation and associated land use map from Business Park to Medium Density Residential. Item 5.3
• Zone change. Introduce for first reading an ordinance approving a zone change (ZC-2026-01001) from Business Park 2 to Medium Density Residential District. Item 5.3
• Tract map and site permit. Adopt a resolution approving Vesting Tentative Tract Map 19489 “for subdivision into condominium purposes” and Site Development Permit SDP-2026-01001 to allow the development of the 58-unit community. Item 5.3
• Development agreement. Introduce for first reading an ordinance approving Development Agreement DA-2026-01002 between the city and Brandywine Acquisition Group, LLC. The agenda does not summarize the agreement’s terms or give any dollar amount; the attachments list the agreement itself and, as an exhibit to it, a “Density Bonus Housing Agreement.” The agenda does not state how many units, if any, would be income-restricted. Item 5.3
• The agenda prints no resolution or ordinance numbers for these five actions. The two ordinances are listed for first reading only. Item 5.3

🎨 Public hearing: which home styles the design manual allows

• Two options on the Objective Design Standards manual. The council is asked to find the amendment exempt from CEQA under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and then to “Select One”: Option 1, adopt a resolution amending the manual “to remove Modern Ranch and Modern architectural styles”; or Option 2, adopt a resolution that removes those two styles and adds the Craftsman architectural style. Both are printed as “Resolution No. 2026-xx.” The agenda does not indicate which option staff prefers. Item 5.1

🏋️ Public hearing: Aliso CrossFit expansion

• Conditional use permit at 6 Journey. Adopt a resolution (printed as “Resolution No. 2026-XX”) approving a conditional use permit, USE-2026-01011, to allow Aliso CrossFit to expand its floor area to 4,911 square feet. Item 5.2
• A discrepancy in the posted agenda: the item heading gives the location as “6 Journey, Suites 300 and 325,” while the resolution title printed beneath it reads “6 Journey, Suites and 325” — with the first suite number missing. Council Brief reports both as posted and does not resolve which is correct. Item 5.2

💼 Contracts on consent

• Auditing services. Approve the First Amendment to the agreement with Davis Farr LLP for professional auditing services, extending the term through June 30, 2027, and increasing compensation by $36,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $165,000, and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment. Item 4.4
• On-call CEQA services. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to the professional services agreement with De Novo Planning Group for on-call CEQA services, increasing compensation by $100,000 for a total of $250,000 and extending the agreement term to June 30, 2027. Item 4.5
• Accounts payable. Ratify accounts payable checks and electronic funds transfers issued between August 28, 2026, and September 24, 2026, for $4,742,423.48. Item 4.3

🪑 Also on the agenda

• Special presentations: recognition of the Aliso Viejo Citizens of the Year; a year-end legislative update from Assemblymember Diane Dixon; and a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week. Items 1.1–1.3
• Waive the reading of all ordinances and resolutions. Item 4.1
• Approve draft minutes of the September 16, 2026 special closed, study session and regular meetings and the September 23, 2026 special meeting (State of the City). Item 4.2
• The Discussion section of the agenda reads “None.” Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker; remote participation is by Microsoft Teams or telephone.

Council Brief summaries are produced from official public records by our automated newsroom and reviewed before publication. Items are described as posted; the council may amend, continue, or remove items at the meeting. Spot an error? hello@councilbrief.com — we publish corrections.