La Habra residents upset by a proposal to build homes on the Westridge Golf Club property are channeling their frustration into an effort to oust Mayor Tim Shaw.

Opponents of the home project, which has not been approved by the City Council, served Shaw with recall papers at Monday night’s council meeting. They must now collect signatures to put a recall election on the ballot.

La Habra resident Jim Lees reads from a prepared statement before serving Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

La Habra resident Edward Han, who is one of over 100 people in the council chambers upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course, serve Mayor Tim Shaw , right, with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

More than 100 residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course listen to speakers after serving Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Mayor Tim Shaw listens to residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course after they served him with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

More than 100 residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course listen and speak after serving Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)



La Habra residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course don t-shirts to save La Habra as they prepare to serve Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

More than 100 residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course wait to speak, or listen after serving Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Residents who are upset about plans to develop homes on the Westridge golf course listen to speakers after serving Mayor Tim Shaw with recall papers during a La Habra City Council meeting Monday, May 7, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

About 150 people filled the council chambers, many of them wearing fluorescent yellow shirts that said “Save Westridge.”

“For all of us who think our city is crowded and getting more crowded, this affects all of us,” resident Cyndy Scotti told the council. “The next zoning change might be next door to any one of us.”

Shaw said earlier Monday he doubts the recall effort will succeed. He questioned why residents singled him out when his council colleagues also voted for recent projects some residents argue are overcrowding the city.

“I don’t think the city as a whole is upset with the direction we’ve been going,” he said.

The golf course opened in 1999. Developer Standard Pacific first proposed homes there a few years ago when the family that owns the course decided to sell, but the project was stalled by two mergers that ended with Lennar as the developer.

The public has until Friday, May 11, to comment on an environmental report on the impacts of the project, called Rancho La Habra. The proposal includes 402 homes with an option to build 20,000 square feet of commercial space or 46 more homes, and 25 acres of public parks. The project would save water and generate more than $1 million in revenue for the city, according to a Rancho La Habra website created by Lennar.

Jim Lees, who lives near the golf course and is spearheading the recall effort, said that aside from one meeting, Shaw has refused to meet with constituents and has led the council to approve more and more development – over residents’ objections – that is adding traffic and ruining the quality of life in La Habra.

“They don’t realize what they’re asking citizens to give up in terms of lifestyle,” Lees said. “It should be up to a vote of the people if you’re going to change any of our open spaces.”

To that end, Lees said, residents also plan to pursue an initiative to require voter approval to build on currently open space. It wouldn’t necessarily block development, but would require another step – going to the ballot, Lees said.

Shaw rejected Lees’ assertions, saying he’s willing to meet with residents – just not Lees. The first time they met, Shaw said Lees started talking about a recall and then launched a “tirade” during the next council meeting, and all about a project the council hasn’t decided on yet.

Some residents may want reassurance the council won’t support the Rancho La Habra project, Shaw said, but the council risks a lawsuit by the developer if it takes a position before a public hearing, which is likely months away.

“To me it’s like a judge saying, ‘All right, the guy’s guilty. Now let’s have the trial,’” Shaw said. “The five of us sitting there have to be open-minded.”

Residents gave input on the city’s general plan, they can comment on the environmental report, and anyone can speak when the council takes up Rancho La Habra for a vote, Shaw said.

Proponents will have four months to collect signatures from 20 percent of the city’s 24,504 registered voters to have the recall placed on the November ballot.