Council to consider parking reduction for Pottery Shack

Barbara Diamond

The Pottery Shack closed last weekend.

Whether it is for good or will reopen in a new form depends how

much the parking requirements are reduced, according to developer Joe

Hanauer.

“I am planning on spending a significant amount of money and a 75%

[parking] reduction is critical,” Hanauer said.

Hanauer proposes to restore the 68-year-old buildings, described

as “funky, cottage, eclectic,” dividing them into separate

businesses, including a restaurant.

Although deteriorated, the Pottery Shack is E-rated (exceptional)

on the city’s list of historically valuable buildings in commercial

zones. The rating qualifies the cluster for a reduction of required

parking spaces of up to 75%, if the structure is put on the city’s

Historical Register. Registration has incentives, such as parking

reductions, and it has restrictions, presumably to keep the

structure’s historic integrity.

The requested 75% reduction would bank parking spaces against the

development of an office building on the site. However, that proposal

was not on the table at the May 26 Planning Commission hearing and

the commissioners declined to consider the parking needs for the

“phantom project.”

Staffers and commission recommended a 55% reduction, provided the

site is put on the Historical Register. Only the council can reduce

parking requirements.

“This will go to council to balance the effects on the

neighborhood against the historical benefits,” said commission Chair

Norm Grossman.

A neighborhood contingent strongly opposed the proposal submitted

by architect Morris Skenderian.

Of late, opposition to proposed developments has bonded neighbors.

The proposed Driftwood Estates development in South Laguna led to

the creation of the Hobo and Aliso Canyons Neighborhood Assn., which

opposed the project. Now, the neighbors of the Pottery Shack have

banded together as the Village Flatlanders Assn. to oppose the

proposed plan to renovate the Pottery Shack.

Association member Darrylin Girvin said the project should have an

environmental impact report.

City staffers had completed an initial study and determined that

impacts could be mitigated to “less than significant,” qualifying the

project for a mitigated negative declaration. Comment period on the

study ended at 5 p.m. the day of the meeting.

Environmental watchdog Roger von Butow was outraged by the absence

of hydrology and traffic studies.

“The neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking and I won’t

deny there will be some impacts,” Skenderian said.

Skenderian’s plan would eliminate six parking spaces in order to

bring the parking lot up to code and uses will be intensified, he

told the commission.

“You have to consider if the trade-off is worth it to save the

buildings,” Skenderian said. “That’s why I am working on this. If

there is a new building, I won’t be the architect.

“The owner needs the [parking] incentive to put millions into the

project.”

Susan Welton is the owner of record, at least until escrow closes

on the sale.

She supports Hanauer’s project. In a letter to the commission, she

said she is selling the property to Hanauer because in 18 years, he

was the only buyer who proposed renovation and not demolition.

Laguna Beach Historical Society President Gene Felder said that

people are shocked to learn that demolition of historical buildings

is permitted.

“The use of parking credits is an acceptable incentive,” said

Felder, who also recommended consideration of making Cress Street

one-way with diagonal parking to ease the burden on the neighbors.

Contrary to published reports, Welton’s letter did not say she

planned to move her business from the site and take the Pottery Shack

name with her.

“Right now,” she wrote, “I intend to take a summer vacation and

when the timing is more definite I will determine my longer term

plans, which may well involve the operation of a smaller version of

the Pottery Shack. In the meantime, I will maintain my internet

Pottery Shack site and continue to keep my office in the Pottery

Shack location as long as remodeling permits.”

Hanauer told the commission he wants Welton to stay.

“I am committed to closing the purchase and to this kind of

project,” Hanauer said.

He has hired restoration architect John Loomis to monitor the

project, acceding to a request for monitoring by the city’s Heritage

Committee.

“Yes, we would like to save the buildings, but not at the

sacrifice of an entire neighborhood,” said Flatlander Assn. member

Tom Girvin.

What is commonly called the Pottery Shack was established in 1936,

one of several large pottery factories that flourished in Laguna

Beach during the war years and the only one that remains.

“After the beach and the Pageant of the Masters, the Pottery Shack

is probably the first thing that comes to tourists’ minds,” said

Village Laguna representative Barbara Metzgar, who urged the

continued sale of pottery, even if on a limited basis.

The remnants of board and batten cottages and parking lot sit on

15 separate lots, bisected by an alley that runs parallel to South

Coast Highway and Glenneyre Street. Its southern boundary is Brooks

Street.

Buildings on the highway frontage measure 15,684 square feet,

approximately 228 of which would be removed in the proposed remodel.

The applicant plans to sub-divide the space into a

1,500-square-foot restaurant, with an outdoor dinning area; five

retail suites, with an outdoor display area; and upstairs offices.

Skenderian also proposed to add 223 square feet to the building that

backs onto Glenneyre Street and 188 square feet to the deck.

Council is tentatively scheduled to hear the request for the

parking reduction on July 6.