The strands of Christmas lights strung across a suburban Orange County street were meant to unite neighbors during the holidays. Instead, the brightly colored decorations left them tangled in red tape.
The canopy of lights that residents say brought a festive glow to a Wagon Wheel neighborhood for the last five years were an "unpermitted encroachment" in the eyes of county officials, who ordered them removed.
But residents in the subdivision in the foothills of Trabuco Canyon said they had no plans to take down the lights that zig-zag above the street — despite warnings that they could be fined or even prosecuted if they fail to remove the display by Wednesday.
"They're going to cut that?" asked Dannielle Jubb, waving toward the aerial decorations. "This is America."
On Monday night, as residents chatted on the sidewalks and children darted across lawns decorated with twinkling snowflakes and inflatable Santas, some wondered why Drover Court — of all the streets of decorated homes in the area — had suddenly become the focus of county scrutiny.
"It's ridiculous," said Jennifer Worthington, who lives on a nearby street but hosts a party every year just to tour the display. "Leave our lights alone."
County officials said it is more complicated than that, however. The strands of lights that stretch across the street from roof to roof are a potential fire hazard and could make it difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate the quiet community.
"We don't have issues with any of the other lights," said Nadia Haidar, a county spokeswoman. "We fully support that."
However, since giving residents notices that the strands of lights stretched over the road must come down — and drawing the outrage of the community — the county has offered to work with residents on getting a permit for the street decorations. Officials said they would consider extending the Wednesday deadline and waiving permit fees.
But even that gesture became tangled.
"It would be unrealistic to have 34 different homeowners come and apply for a permit," Haidar said. "It would be more ideal if the homeowners' association came to the table and offered themselves as the single permittee."
That's not possible, though, because the association's board of directors isn't scheduled to meet again until the new year, board President Jason DeMond said.
"We want the holiday spirit," DeMond said. But "the association has zero involvement."
Late Tuesday, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, who represents the area, said she and staff members may have come up with a last-minute solution.
The county has agreed to accept a permit application from a lighting contractor on behalf of all the homeowners on the street. The contractor was expected to submit an application Wednesday morning, ahead of the deadline, and Haidar said it could be approved later in the week. By granting a permit, the county could inspect the lights and regulate the height of the lines that cross the street.
On Drover Court, residents said they were startled by the amount of bureaucracy involved in something as routine as holiday decorating.
"Like, really?" Christy Gruner said as a decorated palm tree glowed on the lawn behind her. "It's just lights, people."
jill.cowan@latimes.com
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