MAILBAG - Sept. 28, 2007

State Coastal agency should not override city

As a Laguna Beach property owner, I am pleased the Orange County Superior Court has ruled the city of Laguna Beach, which has an existing Coastal Commission-approved local coastal plan, should have control of Coastal Development Permits in our city.

Coastal Commissioners are not elected and meetings can occur all over California. The permitting process through the city of Laguna Beach is thorough. Ask anyone who has been through it. If there is sensitive habitat, there are in-depth studies regulated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and State Fish and Game.

Furthermore, the recent St. Catherine of Siena Parish School remodel project is a prime example of why all property owners should be wary of an agency willing to go to such lengths to gain greater political control.

ANNE MCGRAW

Laguna Beach

Decision on St. Catherine school project is correct

When the Superior Court ruled that the California Coastal Commission had no jurisdiction over the St. Catherine of Siena Parish School re-construction project, it was the right decision.

Attempting to bend laws to exert even greater control is a prime example of the means not justifying the end. Our Laguna Beach City Manager, Ken Frank, and others were correct in stating if hillside run-off can be defined as a stream, thousands of Laguna Beach parcels could be affected.

This reality was not important to the Coastal Commission’s politically-appointed commissioners and it wasn’t important to them that they were holding up much-needed repairs to a 50-year-old Laguna Beach school.

By refusing to accept drainage courses from hillsides as “streams,” Judge Bauer is allowing a school remodel project be just that — not an arena for special interests to try to establish laws to wrest away local control of our coastline.

TATIANA FERGUSON

Laguna Beach

Dogs also need a place to play on the beach

The Sept. 21 column by Gary Thornberg, “Laguna law has bigger bones to pick,” brought up a very heated subject for dog owners that needs to be addressed seriously.

Over the years we have taken our dogs to the beach in the early hours in the winter and late in the day after the people have left. We are careful to clean up after them. Exercise is so very important for them, large and small, and socializing with others is important as well.

They need this recreation just as we humans do. There must be a section of beach in Laguna for this purpose.

The fines that are being given are astronomical and unfair. Gary Thornberg said it so well. His column is worth repeating.

MARY NELSON

Laguna Beach

Say ‘no’ to toll road extension at hearing

In January 2006, Laguna Beach was the second city after Oceanside to sign a resolution against building a toll road through a state park. Supporters of the resolution filled city hall, and our council members voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

In our small way, we sent a clear message to the Transportation Corridor Agencies, the builder of the proposed toll road, saying “no toll roads through California state parks!”

Now, we are among a string of cities up and down the coast, including San Francisco, that have jumped on board and also signed the resolution.

On Oct. 11 the proposed 241 toll road extension will be faced with it’s largest hurdle to date. The California Coastal Commission will meet in San Pedro, where a hearing will take place and the commissioners will decide if the Transportation Corridor Agencies will continue to be exempt from existing California state laws which would enable them to build their toll road.

This hearing is so significant that it could possibly stop the proposed toll road in it’s tracks.

Local activists, Sierra Club Friends of the Foothills and Surfrider Foundation are planning on traveling up to San Pedro to show the California Coastal Commissioners just how important San Onofre State Beach, Trestles, San Mateo Creek, the Donna O’Neil Land Conservancy and the Panhe Native American burial grounds are to all of us.

Many of our local activists also fought hard against the 73 Toll Road. Hopefully, the upcoming results will be much different, but it could go either way.

That is why we need your help. Please plan to join us to help save Trestles and San Onofre State Beach — the fifth most popular state park in California — from the proposed toll road. Sierra Club and Surfrider are hosting busses for this event. For more information and to save your spots on the bus, e-mail robin.everett@sierraclub.org or SSekich@surfrider.org.

CAREY STROMBOTNE

Laguna Beach

Reasons to oppose roll roads through state park

[EDITOR’S NOTE: the following letter was written to Patrick Kruer, chairman of the California Coastal Commission.]

I urge you to reject the consistency application for the proposed Foothill-South toll road. The toll road would cause irreparable harm for current and future park users. Specifically:

 The toll road would irreparably harm affordable coastal recreation which is such an important part of the quality of life in Southern California. The popular San Mateo Campground may have to be closed due to the construction of 16-foot sound walls next to the now-tranquil campground. Access to the beach would become an unpleasant, urban experience due to the replacement trail actually crossing over the proposed toll road. The loss of a significant part of the unique San Onofre State Beach is unacceptable given the ever-increasing need for quality and affordable coastal recreation.

Construction-related erosion would negatively alter the world famous waves at Trestles Beach. Also, water quality in San Mateo Creek is excellent today, but probably would not remain so if the toll road is built.

Endangered species living along our coasts would be pushed toward extinction, irreparably harming coastal resources of our citizenry.

Alternatives that save the park and its rare coastal habitats are available and practical. They should be revisited. It is interesting to know the toll road agency overestimated the number of structures that would be displaced by Interstate 5 improvements. These improvements should bring the toll road congestion relief currently being sought.

I urge you to reject the consistency application — protect and preserve San Onofre State Beach and a unique part of California’s coast for generations to come.

JAMES T. CAPRETZ

Laguna Beach