Consultant urges Lake Forest to build safety into design, citing CPTED principles

John Condon, a consultant with Trabuco Consulting who said he has lived in Lake Forest for 27 years, told the Planning Commission on May 7 that crime prevention is largely a matter of design and maintenance.

Condon described Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) as a toolkit of four pillars — natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement and maintenance — that planners, developers and maintenance crews can use to make parks, business areas and neighborhoods safer. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," he said, urging the commission to use CPTED as a framework in plan reviews and permit discussions.

He cited local work his team has done, including a condition assessment for Mary Vine Street and plan review comments on Kavanaugh Park. Condon highlighted a recent public-works lighting intervention that converted a dark corridor into a lit, more active space: "The difference of having that light in that area makes a big difference," he said. He recommended early coordination with first responders, durable material choices, clear signage and programming — such as concerts or movie nights — to put eyes on underused parks.

Commissioners thanked Condon for the presentation and pressed for follow-up on existing parks. The Chair and other members referenced El Toro Park as an example that could benefit from a CPTED review; Condon said he had already observed that park and supports reevaluation. Several commissioners expressed interest in continuing to involve the public and maintenance crews when design changes are considered.

The presentation concluded with Condon offering to provide further input and practical assessments for projects moving through planning and code enforcement. The commission did not take a formal action on the presentation; commissioners encouraged staff to continue engaging the consultant in plan reviews and community outreach.