6 lagunabeachindy . com SEPTEMBER 30 , 2022
Measure Q is inherently flawed ; it must be defeated [ vote no ]. It uses language that is misleading ; “ major development ” is nothing like major , “ reasonable necessary number of parking ” is nothing like reasonable . If you are thinking of voting yes , I urge you to read the actual referendum . It is not benign .
This Measure is put forth by people who are not architects nor planners . They seem to simply distrust people who study this , people who dedicate their lives to being good stewards of civic life .
I am a fellow of the American Institute of Architects ( less than 2 % of America ’ s architects ) installed for the quality of my design work . I have practiced architecture for over 45 years here in California , across the United States , in Canada and in Europe . I have read this measure . I have no stake in this other than being a citizen of wonderful Laguna Beach , where I chose to live and raise my children some 43 years ago .
They propose to put to a citizen vote [ who knows when , every two years ] issues about projects that occupy lots of 6000 ft .² or more . That is a little larger than a typical house lot ( 50 ’ x100 ’). That is small for a commercial or institutional project . Under this measure :
• Suzie Q couldn ’ t be built ,
• Hotel Laguna couldn ’ t be built
• The Sapphire restaurant complex couldn ’ t be built
• The Heidelberg center and The Plaza ( Shirley ’ s Bagel ) couldn ’ t be built
The size of a building that they call major is 22,000 ft .² or more . It is not . Anyone that has been involved in design of civic buildings would know that .
This means virtually no new shopping facilities , restaurants , cafés , anything that gives life to our city .
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What we need is a vision of what this city can be . We need to encourage quality buildings and projects that help us arrive at that vision . We need codes that enable the building of a vision . We need to encourage the engagement of talented planners and architects . Our city deserves this , our citizens expect this , and for our children we must be responsible enough to understand how to achieve this .
We can ’ t afford to have our public places , our public facilities , our civic identity designed by trite soundbite advertising propositions . This requires talented , dedicated professionals , educated and practiced in town planning , architecture , and urban design , having visualization skills , imagination , clarity of vision and boldness . We deserve nothing less ! Please vote no . L Paul Zajfen , Laguna Beach
Apparently the Laguna Beach Planning Commission fell all over itself during a recent meeting in which it attempted to ignore the facts and somehow justify the baseless claim that relocating the existing South Laguna fire station to the corner of Coast Hwy . and 5th Ave . was consistent with the General Plan . And what was the justification given for reaching this baseless conclusion ? Well , according to reports , it was a determination made by Commissioner Steve Kellenberg that there are no other viable sites with reasonable access along Coast Highway . And where , may I ask , is it written that the fire station must be located along Coast Highway ? The present fire station is not located along Coast Highway and it has functioned quite nicely as a fire station for the past 50 years that I ’ ve lived in Laguna . The fact is that locating the fire station along Coast Hwy . is exactly what makes the proposal INCONSISTENT with the
General Plan . You see , the drafters of the General Plan were so taken by the importance of highways to the General Plan that they devoted a whole separate section to deal specifically with the scenic highways issue . Coast Highway is specifically designated as a Scenic Highways component . Consistency with the General Plan requires that City planning and implementation related to Scenic Highway components , “ assure that the best qualities of the City ’ s Scenic Highways and their visual corridors are maintained and improved where necessary to create the highest aesthetic standard consistent with scenic highway practices and community values .” It is abundantly clear to the most casual observer that removing the existing fire station to a new location along Coast Highway would NOT be an improvement
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Will you attend this year ’ s Taste of Laguna ?
- No 83 % - Yes 16 % Total Votes 50
THIS WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Are you for the Promenade becoming a permanent fixture in Laguna ?
- No - Yes
To vote , visit the poll tab at lagunabeachindy . com . Submit poll questions to
clara @ firebrandmediainc . com .
LETTERS , page 18
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CITY HALL MEETINGS :
Tuesday , Oct . 4 . Laguna Beach Regular City Council Meeting at 5 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Sue Kempf Mayor 439-3001 skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS , 5 PM LOUIS WEIL : lweil @ lagunabeachcity . net KRISTINE THALMAN : kthalman @ lagunabeachcity . net DON SHERIDAN : dsheridan @ lagunabeachcity . net JESSICA GANNON : jgannon @ lagunabeachcity . net DEBORAH NEEV : dneev @ lagunabeachcity . net
Bob Whalen Peter Blake Mayor pro tem
Council member
497-0796
584-1224 bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net pblake @ lagunabeachcity . net
Toni Iseman Council member 494-7648 tiseman2 @ aol . com
PLANNING COMMISSION 1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS , 6 PM STEVEN KELLENBERG , steve @ kellenbergstudio . com KEN SADLER : 616-0517 , ken . sadler @ cox . net JORG DUBIN : 497-2618 , jdubinart @ cox . net STEVE GOLDMAN : 203-554-2290 , steveg415 @ ymail . com SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN : 838-6317 , whitinsusan @ gmail . com
George Weiss Council member 295-0832 gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk 497-0309 amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer 949-497-0327 lparisi @ lagunabeachcity . net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES :
REP . MICHELLE STEEL , 1113 Longworth House Office Building , Washington , DC 20515 . 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLYWOMAN COTTIE PETRIE-NORRIS , 19712 MacArthur Blvd . Ste . 150 , Irvine , CA 92612 . 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR LISA BARTLETT , 333 W . Santa Ana Blvd ., Santa Ana , CA 92701 714-834- 3550 , Lisa . Bartlett @ ocgov . com
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