Next phase for new senior center

A plan for a senior and community center on Third Street that finally is ready to be move off the drawing board will be presented to the planning commission Wednesday.

The proposed project was presented to the public at a meeting hosted Monday by Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. at the Veterans Memorial Building on Legion Street, currently used for seniors’ activities.

“There are no significant changes to the plan as approved by the City Council last year,” said meeting moderator Lee Anderson, president of the seniors group. “It will be submitted to the Planning Commission because they review projects in the downtown.”

Project Charlie Williams and Wendy Rogers of LPA, a firm which worked on the Thurston Middle School remodel, attended the meeting to respond to questions.

“I think the major area of concern was the windows for fresh air and light,” Anderson said. “It got by far the most comments.”

However, on Tuesday, a neighbor of the proposed center and outspoken critic of the windowless back wall said opponents’ objections had been withdrawn.

Barbara Hoag, who said she had been convinced that a fresh air exchange system would work, attended the meeting Monday.

“I am grateful for the extra effort on the part of the seniors,” Hoag said. “People came from all segments of the community and said what they really felt. All the comments were listened to — which should make it really easy when [the plan] comes to the planning commission.”

Other neighbors, who had pushed for the windowless wall, also attended the meeting.

“The meeting was an opportunity for people ask questions and to express their opinions, which they certainly did,” Anderson said.

City Manager Ken Frank fielded questions about the safety of pedestrians crossing the street at the corner of Third and Mermaid streets at the bottom of the Third Street hill and difficulties that might be encountered making left hand turns into and out of the center’s garage.

“How seniors cross the street is legitimate concern,” Frank said. “We always thought it might be necessary to put a crosswalk in the middle of the block. It would be easy to do if it is needed.”

As for the left-hand turns, Frank said the parking and traffic study was done for a bigger project with more parking spaces in the garage.

“The study determined it was not a big deal,” Frank said.

However, if it becomes necessary, Frank said the city could remove a couple of street parking spaces and create a left hand turn lane going into the garage. Frank said most of the issues being raised were already dealt with in the environmental report for the project.

“One of the problems with doing EIR so early is that people forget,” Frank said.

About 70 cars a day already make left-hand turns in that block to access parking for businesses and the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, which shows it can be done, Frank opined.

As proposed, the center will have 7,500 square feet and landscaped areas available for joint use by the community as well as the seniors, and 8,000 square feet exclusively for the seniors.

The seniors have raised about $2 million of the $2.5 million goal for their share of the construction of the center.

Fundraising began even before the city bought the Third Street parcels almost five years ago. The city also agreed to help funding by paying for the enclosed parking, which the city will share.

The proposed design for the project was approved 4-0 by the council in June 2005. Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman recused herself because a state law prohibits elected officials form voting on projects within 500 feet of property they own.

Mother Nature’s dirty trick last year delayed the center project when earmarked funds were diverted to the restoration of the city’s infrastructure destroyed by the Bluebird Canyon landslide.

The seniors don’t want any more delays.

“We need to show up in force to show support for the building,” said Ann Quilter, center capital campaign co-chair.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for April, with construction expected to be completed in late 2008.