Historic preservation rules: Learn more at Sept. 15 workshop

Laguna Beach will host an educational workshop on historic preservation, including the effect of California’s environmental policies, next month.

The workshop will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 15 in council chambers at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. It will include a discussion of Laguna Beach’s current historic preservation ordinance and potential changes to it.

The city, with help from consultant Jan Ostashay, is updating the ratings of homes deemed in 1981 to possess a degree of historic value.

Homeowners have spoken about feeling restricted by existing rules that limit what they can do to their homes and some would like their houses taken off the city’s historic inventory.

Ostashay and City Atty. Phil Kohn will be available to answer questions.

A copy of the draft ordinance and draft inventory and information about the upcoming meeting and past meetings relating to the historic inventory update can be found at lagunabeachcity.net.

For more information, contact senior planner Martina Speare at (949) 464-6629 or at historicinventory@lagunabeachcity.net.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce