Laguna may ask state to keep cottages occupied

Paul Clinton

Laguna Beach Councilwoman Toni Iseman doesn’t trust California State

Parks to protect the historic cottages at Crystal Cove State Park.

Afraid the state’s stewardship of the 46 cottages will prove

inadequate, the Laguna Beach City Council member wants the dwellings

occupied by someone other than park rangers.

“They need some TLC,” Iseman said. “The state has not proven

themselves equipped to do this.”

Iseman floated a resolution at her city’s council meeting Tuesday

night to draw attention to the state’s plan to leave most of the cottages

empty after residents move out July 9.

“We spent many, many weeks negotiating a settlement for July 8” to be

the last day for residents, State Parks spokesman Roy Stearns said. “We

see no reason now to overturn that date.”

Residents who have fought for more than 20 years to stay in their

beachfront dwellings agreed to leave so the state could begin a detailed

survey of their infrastructures. State parks officials have said they

need to remove the residents to replace leaking sewer systems.

Iseman’s resolution, which would carry the weight of an opinion, urges

the state to keep the cottages occupied “so they do not deteriorate until

the state initiates the reuse of those buildings.”

The state has begun the public review process for the district, placed

on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. State parks

officials have pledged to “preserve and protect” the cottages.

“We understand and appreciate their concerns,” Stearns said about the

Laguna Beach resolution. “We will do our utmost to preserve those

cottages.”

After the residents leave, Stearns said rangers would occupy a handful

of the cabins.

Before the council meeting, Laguna Beach Councilman Wayne Baglin said

he would propose several changes to the resolution to clarify some

ambiguity about who would live in the cabins if not the residents or

rangers.

Baglin said he hoped the resolution wouldn’t send the message that his

city wants the residents to stay.

“It is half the position I want to take,” Baglin said about the

resolution. “The other half is that the tenants will be vacating July 9.”