Entrance takes a new tack

It’s not over until it’s over, Yogi Berra famously said. He might have been talking about proposals for the Village Entrance.

The City Council on Tuesday tacked on a couple of new options to consider for inclusion in the already revised environmental impact report for the project, which has been on and off the drawing board for about 30 years. The research on additional options was included in the agenda item, which was a proposal to authorize a contract amendment for the completion of the Village Entrance EIR and appropriated necessary funds.

“I have an alternative,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson, who offered a surprise compromise to reduce the number of parking spaces in the proposed parking structure. “I am willing to come down to 490 spaces, but I would like [to add] a housing component of eight-to-15 units for young people who might like to live and work downtown.”

Pearson originally held out for 650 spaces in the parking structure, but later agreed to a reduction to 580, at which she drew the line until Tuesday. Her latest proposal is an effort to get the Village Entrance off the drawing board and onto the ground.

Village Laguna founder Arnold Hano immediately challenged Pearson’s proposal.

“I have lived in Laguna for 53 years, and I have spent 75 years on this subject,” Hano said. “Elizabeth’s proposal makes it clear this is still a work in progress.

“Elizabeth talks about getting it done. I just want to see it get started.”

Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who formed an alliance with Pearson to cleared the Village Entrance parcel adjacent to City Hall of maintenance clutter so a park and parking could be built there, said adding alternatives was not to slow down the process, but to speed it up.

“It’s basically feasibility,” Iseman said. “Laguna has summer and the rest of the year. We cannot build just for the summer or we will hemorrhage money.

“I have watched Elizabeth over the years and I have never seen her start something she didn’t finish and she says this [Village Entrance] will happen.”

Councilman Kelly Boyd said Pearson’s idea is worth a look.

However, Iseman contributed another variation to the Pearson’s proposal. “I would like to see us put a park on top of the garage,” Iseman said.

She said the roof-top park could be subtracted from the surface park area and it might be revenue generating “” perhaps as a wedding venue. The roof top might also accommodate a retail establishment or a restaurant, as well as a park, Iseman said.

“I voted [in April] against the EIR because I wanted to know how much money we will spend, but I think retail use should be considered,” Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman said.

The staff had asked for a $65,000 appropriation from the parking fund for the completion of the EIR “” but that was before Pearson dropped her bombshell. Community Development Director John Montgomery suggested that another $35,000 should be added to the appropriation if the alternatives were to be included in the report, to which Kinsman objected.

“Would you support retail with 490 spaces?” Pearson asked.

When Kinsman said she didn’t know how she would vote, Pearson said then she would not vote to fund the completion of the EIR.

Kinsman acquiesced and Iseman moved that both proposals be considered in the EIR. Frank intervened and suggested an interim step.

The council voted 4-1, Mayor Jane Egly opposed, to appoint Iseman and Pearson to a sub-committee to work with the project architect on sketches for a 490-space garage, with 8-15 residences or retail space on top or with some retail or a restaurant and park on the roof, and get cost estimates to bring back to the council for a decision on whether to add the proposals to the EIR.

Iseman made the motion, Pearson seconded it. No date was set for the sub-committee report.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or coastlinepilot@latimes.com.