Sign ordinance gets preliminary OK It’s...

Sign ordinance gets preliminary OK

It’s the time of the signs in Laguna Beach.

The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a revised

sign ordinance, a collaboration between the Planning Commission and

the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce that was almost two years in the

making.

Formerly all signs downtown were supposed to be approved by the

Planning Commission. Signs in other areas were subject to Design

Review Board approval. The revised ordinance permits staff to approve

signs that take up half or less of the maximum allowable size.

“It is phenomenal what the Planning Commission has come up with,”

said Mayor Wayne Baglin. “The time spent crafting it was worth it.

And I am glad the chamber got involved.”

The last major revision was made in 1991.

“Laguna Beach already had the best signs in Orange County, if not

Southern California,” said chamber spokesman Tom Ahern, owner of

Latitude 22 books. “But times have changed since the sign ordinance

was last rewritten.”

“I am happy with just about everything except the application

process. It is cumbersome and most people ignore it. I estimate that

less than 1/6of signs downtown and a 10th of the signs outside

downtown have gone through the required process.”

Ahern said he would have preferred administrative approval of

virtually all signs, to be applied for over the counter and approved

within two days.

“All signs going to administrative approval scares everyone,” said

Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman. “The revised ordinance is a

simple way to get the process started.”

The council approved a one-year test of the proposed application

process.

“I tend to think what we (the commission) approved is the way to

go,” said commission chair Kimberly Stuart.

However, the council balked at the commission’s proposed ban on

all neon signs inside or outside buildings, preferring case-by-case

hearings on applications for interior signs. All exterior neon signs

were banned in the early 1990s.

Businesses with existing interior neon signs that conflict with

the city regulations will have 60 days to conform. Window signs must

conform within 120 days. An extension of the amortization period can

be requested.

The council also tweaked requirements for parking lot signs. They

will be required to include fees and the police department business

telephone number for information about missing or damaged vehicles.

“I want to know how much I am going to have to pay before I park,”

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said.

Staff was directed to research how other communities deal with

signs for temporary rentals.

Baglin, a real estate broker, wants to prohibit year-round display

of staked signs.

The revised ordinance will come back to council for a second

hearing before final approval.

-- Barbara Diamond

City to plant new,

maintain old trees

The residents of South Laguna scored a victory on behalf of the

trees.

The City Council unanimously approved to allocate $25,000 to plant

and maintain new trees as well as take on 59 trees as city heritage

trees.

“It is very rewarding,” said Ann Christoph, board member of the

South Laguna Civic Assn. “Now it’s a question of moving forward and

making sure everyone is aware of this.”

The city will write a letter to property owners who have heritage

trees on their properties asking them if they would allow workers to

maintain those trees. Property owners will have the option to decline

service from the city.

The 59 heritage trees are on portions of Catalina Street, Virginia

Way, Eagle Rock Way, South Coast Highway and Monterey Street.

Christoph and members of the Civic Assn. plan to encourage those

property owners to allow the city to care for those trees, some of

which are 80 years old.

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, city manager Ken

Frank estimated that each tree will cost about $200 to prune, leaving

an estimated $12,000 to plant new trees in the South Laguna business

district.

However, Christoph doesn’t just see the money as an end to a

10-year debate about the trees. She also sees this as a stronger bond

between the city and the South Laguna community.

“When we were operated by the county we didn’t have Design Review

Board or a direct interface with officials,” she explained. “I hope

people in South Laguna appreciate that this is will make us more part

of the city system.”

-- Mary Castillo

Music in the Park kicks off Sunday

The Music in the Park series is just around the corner.

Two days from now marks the commencement of the Music in the Park

concert series. The event is a playground and Mecca for mingling.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and

enjoy the summer from a local perspective, casual wine and Brie with

some friends and solid tunes,” said Jeff Mourer avid concert-goer.

The series starts out with Buzzworld, a band known for its

traditional acoustic Celtic music.

“Buzzworld, California’s premier Celtic-based acoustic and

electric band will be performing both contemporary and traditional

Celtic music with a driving rhythm,” said Sian Poeschl, city arts

coordinator.

On July 28, the concert series will be serving up blues with Reno

James, who has performed with greats such as Ray Charles, The Four

Tops, Johnny Otis and others.

That night, the park promises to be filled with a fine mix of

blues and rhythm and blues.

Latino, rock and reggae head up August’s first band, Caravana.

They are known for their high-energy grooves and international sound.

“I look forward to starting a new family tradition with my husband

Joe,” said local Cynthia Jenkins.

The Music in the Park Series is courtesy of the city and Music in

the Park, Inc.

The concerts start at 5 p.m. every Sunday through Sept. 8 at

Bluebird Park. They are free. The park is at Cress and Bluebird

canyon Drive. Information: (949) 497-0716. No pets.

Council denies doggie haven

A Laguna Beach animal lover was denied permission to permanently

house six dogs at his home Tuesday.

The City Council voted 4-0 to give Peony Chua and Allan Feker six

months to find homes for two of the dogs and to limit the number of

dogs at the home to four.

Police Chief James Spreine recommended the grace period and

offered the assistance of his staff to help relocate two of the dogs.

Six dogs would require a kennel permit, for which Chua had applied

to the city’s Animal Shelter. Letters from nine neighbors opposed the

application and it was denied. The Chuas appealed the decision to the

council.

“We rescue older dogs,” Feker told the council. “We don’t want a

kennel license. We don’t want to breed dogs. We just want to keep our

six old dogs.”

Feker said 28 dogs live on his street. Taking away two of his dogs

still would leave 26 dogs on the street.

Four dogs may be kept without any permit on a property the size of

the kennel applicants, according to Police Capt. Paul Workman, animal

services manager.

Council members said they found it painful to deny the soft-spoken

Feker his request.

“I appreciate what you have done for animals,” said Mayor Wayne

Baglin. “But I did sit on the council when we had a similar situation

in North Laguna and four is a number I find to be a lot of dogs.

“I can’t support going above four, but it causes me great pain

because you care so much.”

Councilman Steven Dicterow recused himself from the vote.

-- Barbara Diamond

Barney Frank lends support to Schipske

Democratic Congressman Barney Frank will be the guest of honor at

a reception and buffet dinner, set for Saturday, at the Laguna Beach

home of Charles Walworth and Ed Pope.

The VIP reception will be $500 per person, the dinner $150 per

person or $250 per couple. Proceeds will benefit Gerrie Schipske, who

is opposing Rep. Dana Rohrabacher for the new 46th District seat in

Congress.

“Gerrie will attend,” said Terry Stinson in her election office.

The Laguna Beach Democratic Club is promoting the event. Dave

Schaar is the president. Anne Cox serves as vice president, Dick

Frank as treasurer and Mary Rabe as secretary.

For more information about the fund-raiser or to make

reservations, call Terry at (866) 595-1145.

-- Barbara Diamond