City Names New Community Development Director

Mission Viejo's community development director is retiring in December. His successor has been chosen in planning manager Elaine Lister.

Here's more from the City of Mission Viejo's Mission Viejo Life Blog:

Elaine has been part of the Community Development Department team since 1990 serving as a planning technician, assistant planner and associate planner.  She has served as Mission Viejo’s planning manager since 2000.  Elaine has been involved in nearly every major planning and community development project that’s come before the City including the most recent comprehensive update of the City’s General Plan.

“One of Elaine’s most notable accomplishments was leading the City through the settlement of a significant lawsuit brought against the City of Mission Viejo by the Public Law Center and The Kennedy Commission,” said City Manager Dennis Wilberg, who appointed Elaine to the post.  “In that case, the court ruled that the City was not in compliance with State Housing law and ordered the City to take a number of remedial actions.  Elaine was able to navigate a labyrinth of state regulations and court orders to bring the City  back into compliance and most recently, the City of Mission Viejo was the first city in Southern California to receive recertification of its Housing Element … again achieved under Elaine’s guidance.”