Proposal would double parking at Pottery Shack

Barbara Diamond

Over the objections of some community members, the City Council

approved in concept Tuesday a proposal to build an underground garage

and almost double the parking spaces at a Laguna Beach icon in a

neighborhood desperate to get outsiders’ cars off its streets.

The council voted 4-0 to expedite a proposal to burrow underneath

the Pottery Shack at 1212 S. Coast Highway to create a total of 81

parking spaces -- 40 more than the existing 41.

The landmark Pottery Shack -- with its wooden clapboard buildings

decorated with colorful plates -- is one of the most historic

commercial structures in Laguna Beach. The owner plans to renovate

it, adding retail, office and restaurant spaces, but keeping the

vintage look.

Representatives of the Village Flatlanders Neighborhood

Association -- which formed over concerns about a perceived lack of

parking for the Pottery Shack renovation and the intrusion into their

neighborhood of employee parking from nearby businesses and hotels --

criticized the underground parking plan.

“We don’t even know what the project is,” association spokesman

Roger Von Butow said. “I was a Marine and you can’t hit a target if

you can’t see it.”

Von Butow said traffic studies are needed.

Concerns about parking issues in the original proposal for the

Pottery Shack led to the creation of a council parking task force,

co-chaired by Councilman Steven Dicterow, who was absent from

Tuesday’s meeting, and Councilwoman Jane Egly.

Association opposition took Egly by surprise.

“I am confused,” Egly said. “Before I was even on the council I

met with the Flatlanders, who were unhappy about parking. We

discussed underground parking and I had the clear sense that they

thought it was a good idea.”

“I understand Jane’s confusion,” Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said.

“People said they want more parking and when someone comes in with

more parking, they say they don’t want more parking.”

Egly -- who voted against the remodeling project, approved by the

council earlier this year, because of parking concerns -- defended

the underground plan. “He [property owner Joe Hanauer] is doing

exactly what we wanted him to do,” Egly said.

Other issues concerned the historic site, and incentives that were

approved so the owner would be inclined to preserve the exterior

facade. Some objected to any alterations that would allow the

subterranean garage to be built.

The subterranean concept requires the demolition of the Pottery

Shack structure on Glenneyre Street and removal of the adjacent

sycamore tree. No mention was made of the eucalyptus tree on the

corner of Brooks and Glenneyre Streets.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who submitted the agenda item jointly

with Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, said every effort must be

made to preserve the sycamore, estimated to be 70 years old.

“I have been looking at that sycamore tree for 44 years,” said

neighbor Mark Sofian. “There is no reason to take it down and no

reason to demolish the building. I am against this project.”

Project architect Morris Skenderian said if the tree is left in

place, the underground garage would lose about 20 spaces, which would

make it not economically feasible.

Heritage Committee members deemed the demolition of the one

building unacceptable -- even if a similar structure was constructed

at another location on the conglomeration of lots that make up the

Pottery Shack site.

The committee approved the property for listing on the city’s

historical register, which seeks to preserve, where possible, the

exteriors of historic structures. Incentives for registering a

structure include reductions in parking requirements, and leniency in

setbacks -- the distance from the property line to the building.

“This is a historical site,” said committee member Bonnie Hano,

speaking for herself. “They promised to keep it intact and were given

a 53% reduction in [required] parking.

“If they move ahead with this proposal, they should give back the

incentives. This is a travesty.”

Committee member Molly Bing also took a dim view of the proposal.

Business leaders had a different perspective.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to put parking in an area which

needs it,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Verlaine Crawford

said. “Hanauer’s proposal is contingent on including it in the

construction timetable for the entire project. The old building will

be pulled down and a new one constructed so that it would not

completely block visibility from the Glenneyre Street surface parking

lot exit.

“We truly, truly support this opportunity to increase parking at

the Pottery Shack and reduce the neighborhood problem.” Surf & Sand

spokeswoman Joanna Bear said.

Neighborhood association members consider the hotel one of the

main culprits for their overburdened neighborhood streets because of

the lack of free employee parking.

Opponents claimed the additional parking would be leased to the

hotel at a profit for Hanauer, instead of adding to the Pottery Shack

parking spaces they have always considered inadequate.

Hanauer said he has no deal with the hotel and, if business at his

property warrants it, he will utilize the spaces.

Now the proposal moves to the Planning Commission and Design

Review, which have 21 days to determine if the preliminary plans are

acceptable, Skenderian said.