Pleased with road realignment I am...

Pleased with road realignment

I am very happy to see that the Laguna Canyon Road is being

realigned and widened.

I work in Laguna Beach and live in Irvine, so I am on that highway

at least 10 times a week. I am sure it will help with the traffic and

will make it a safer road. There are many accidents on that road.

When I count my blessings, this is one more.

KAREN TOWNES

Irvine

Thrilled to see McCalla’s staying

Hurrah! I am so happy that McCalla’s Pharmacy will still be in

Laguna Beach.

I have been their customer for these 44 years. I am so glad I

won’t have to change. Pavilion’s is a perfect place for them.

BERNICE COLLIER

Laguna Beach

Changes to Forest part of ebb and flow

The McCalla’s-Hobie shuffle is a result of natural market forces

and is good for all.

Yes, there is a sentimental loss from seeing yet another of the

old time establishments leave Forest Avenue, but that battle was lost

long ago, and we need to stop whining and move on.

McCalla’s should benefit because they can now return to their core

business of filling prescriptions and selling medical supplies

instead of the gifts and knickknacks that occupy most of their

present location. North Laguna (and Newport Coast) benefit by gaining

a resident-serving neighborhood drug store that’s easy to reach. The

Downtown Village benefits because Hobie is a charming and attractive

store that appeals to visitors and residents.

Since Hobie owns the building, they must believe they can generate

more income from retail sales than rent. Increased sales mean more

sales tax revenue for the city. With this move, McCalla’s serves

residents better, and the Village is preserved and made prosperous.

KEN DELINO

Laguna Beach

Chamber of Commerce

Speak up for right to peace

Last Saturday about 100 Americans exercised their Constitutional

right to free expression by gathering on Pacific Coast Highway at

Main Beach to peacefully promote their position on their

representative government’s foreign policy.

About 1,000 or more vehicles passed in front of this group in a

two-hour period, and it was observed that the majority of drivers and

passengers just passed by indifferent to what was happening around

them. A minority of drivers and passengers cheerfully expressed

support or approval, while a smaller minority angrily expressed

disagreement or obscenities (It was interesting to see the

contrasting temperaments associated with each side of the issue).

A question for those who were indifferent: Do you find yourself

trapped in this dilemma because you chose not to vote in the last

congressional and presidential elections? If so, you deserve it. But

those who do take a stand don’t deserve it. Why not study the issue

and then make an informed choice to support one side or the other and

participate in your government?

NIKO THERIS

Laguna Beach

LANO deserves credit for safer walk

Your article in the Jan. 17 Coastline Pilot, “A safer crosswalk,”

was inaccurate in giving seemingly total credit to the North Laguna

Community Assn. for the pedestrian improvements at Cliff and Rosa

Bonheur drives.

We are the other group in North Laguna, LANO (Laguna North

Neighborhood Organization). Ever since the horrible fatality at the

crosswalk on Cliff Drive, and even before, we have been asking the

city fro a three-way stop to better protect the pedestrians and the

motorists at this dangerous intersection. This is the main walking

way, and alternate driving way, for North Lagunans to get to

Downtown.

We were asked to hold off on our request until litigation had been

concluded. We sent follow-up requests and finally, this last Spring,

the litigation was concluded.

Shortly there after the city did some improvements to the

crosswalk to try to make it more visible to motorists. We continued

to seek a three-way stop sign and were told to direct our request to

the Traffic Committee. This has been done and LANO appeared to plead

our case.

In January, the traffic committee asked staff to look into our

recommendation. Staff was to review it and make recommendations at

their February meeting. Suddenly, the city made some new additions to

the crosswalk of solar-powered markers and a much more visible

pedestrian warning sign to motorists, for which we are thankful.

The intersection is still a dangerous one to motorists exiting

from Rosa Bonheur onto Cliff Drive. The speed limit on Cliff drive is

35 mph, when 25 mph is normal in a residential neighborhood. Cliff

Drive is “signed” as an “Alternate Route To Coast Highway,”

encouraging motorists to detour off of Broadway and onto Cliff Drive.

Try exiting from Rosa Bonheur at peak traffic hours. A three-way stop

is a necessity to avoid another serious pedestrian accident or a

serious auto accident. The speed limit on Cliff Drive should be

reduced as well.

These new improvements are wonderful and do give pedestrians a

better sense of security, but they are not adequate to reduce the

speed to motorists on Cliff Drive to insure that there will not be

another terrible accident at this intersection.

The other North Laguna group may get the credit, but it was LANO

who did preliminary work to get these improvements, and who will

continue to lobby for a three-way stop sign for ultimate protection

of pedestrians and motorists alike.

DON KNAPP

President, Laguna North

Neighborhood Organization

Trim now, leave birds in peace

Please! If you need to trim your trees, hedges or shrubbery, do it

now!!

Nesting season starts mid-March for all our songbirds. They are

declining rapidly for various reasons. They need all the help we can

give them.

So please do your trimming now and definitely not after March 1.

YVONNE AND GARY MEREDITH

Laguna Beach

Not at all pleased with Driftwood

We neighbors played by the rules and attended all the Planning

Commission hearings. We submitted volumes of information voicing our

concerns about this project. It all seemed to be ignored in the city

staff resolution on Dec. 13, 2002. Project approved, with no

conditions on this proposed construction.

A “private” (read: secret) deal with an elderly, vulnerable

homeowner somehow justified shoving 15 homes into this parcel. The

final item in the city’s resolution completely absolves the city of

Laguna Beach from liability for this dangerous construction project

in the middle of an old, somewhat fragile neighborhood. It will be

next to impossible to survive this project without a fatality.

This is an extremely flawed project. The City Council has

requested the submission of the developer’s agreement with the

elderly neighbor. I believe that all agreements for this project

should be part of the public record, not just the Barnise agreement,

but also the agreement between the developer and property owner of

record, etc. I also believe that the City Council must develop a

subdivision policy to cover such issues as protection of neighbor’s

life and property. No more “hit and run” construction in Laguna.

Oh, and the offer of open space? Well, remember that “free” park

at Treasure Island? How generous of the developer to offer to deed

the unbuildable property!

BETSY BREDAU

Laguna Beach

Next month will mark three years since the proposed Driftwood

Estates subdivision entered my life.

I have written many letters and submitted extensive information

and testimony to the city staff, Planning Commission and City Council

as to why this project is flawed and destructive. I am not happy with

the direction this development is taking. Being the eternal optimist,

I can only hope that our voices will not continue to fall upon deaf

ears.

This project has never been based upon solid planning principles.

It’s always been all about “deal making.” This is a huge issue for

Laguna Beach, sound policies and good planning are needed to approve

a subdivision, not deal making. This project will set a precedent for

all subdivisions.

I was delighted that three young adults testified at last the Jan.

14 City Council hearing. They were not interested in deal making.

They were interested in preserving and protecting Laguna Beach open

space, endangered species, sensitive habitat, neighborhood quality

and character and maintaining consistency with the city’s general

plan.

A quick snapshot of these young adults: Derek Ostensen, 21, of

Laguna Beach. Derek was born and raised in Laguna Beach, doesn’t own

real estate or have any self-serving interests. His plea to the City

Council was to protect and preserve this beautiful land. He astutely

mentioned ridge lines and view shed, sensitive habitat and several

other issues as they relate to neighborhood compatibility and

maintaining neighborhood character.

Christopher Koontz, 21, of the Orange/Los Angeles Sierra Club

conservation staff. All this young man is asking is for the City

Council to uphold the principles of its general plan and make sure

that they are working with updated general plan elements as they make

their decision on the proposed project.

Rachel Oshry, 24, of the Los Angeles Sierra Club conservation

staff. Rachel pointed out the severe damage to endangered species and

sensitive habitat that would occur should this proposed development

be approved as is.

These are the voices of our future -- are we listening? It’s one

thing for neighbors with vested property interests and the “graying

environmental community” to speak out against this flawed and

destructive project, but it’s another to hear it from our young

adults all under the age of 25. They don’t want deal making, they

want good, solid planning principles that will protect their future

and the future of their children. This should be everyone’s focus.

PENNY ELIA

Laguna Beach