MAILBAG: Task force seeks input on design review

The Design Review Task Force was appointed by the City Council in August 2004, with a mandate to develop recommendations designed to reduce contentiousness in Laguna’s Design Review process. The task force will host public forums at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Oct. 6 in the Council Chambers at City Hall to obtain direct feedback on the effectiveness of recent changes to the design review process.

These forums are part of a council-authorized evaluation of the new staff assisted design review procedures. In 2005, the task force made a number of detailed recommendations in a written report to the City Council. Most of the recommendations were adopted by the council as part of a reform package in January 2006. Everyone interested in the design review process is invited to attend these forums so that their opinions on the revised procedures may be heard.

ROBERT M. ZUR SCHMIEDE

Laguna Beach

Editor’s note: Robert M. Zur Schmiede is a Laguna Beach Planning Commissioner and Design Review Task Force Member.

Take a day off to help save San Onofre park

Let’s take a day off work Sept. 22 and carpool to another meeting in Del Mar to save San Onofre State Park and Trestles Beach.

In February, the California Coastal Commission voted against the Foothill South toll road, and the Transportation Corridor Agency has appealed to the Secretary of Commerce.

The Federal Consistency Appeal hearing will be from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the O’Brien Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014 (just off I-5 Freeway in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit).

Volunteer to drive your car to Del Mar or get a ride by calling (949) 939-7257 or e-mailing gene@felders.net and we’ll organize carpools.

We want to arrive before 10 a.m. and get labels and signs from the Sierra Club table.

The Sierra Club and Surfriders are also arranging buses leaving from San Clemente; those interested should e-mail robin.everett@sierraclub.org or call Robin Everett at (949) 361-7534. A massive turnout may be key to ensuring the California Coastal Commission decision is upheld. No decision will be made at the meeting; the sole purpose of the hearing is to receive public views and input.

If you are opposed to a six-lane toll road through the fifth most popular California State Park, San Onofre State Park, you should join us. According to the Los Angeles Times, Jan. 17: “In September, the [California Coastal] commission’s staff recommended against approval, saying that building a six-lane toll road through San Onofre [State Park] would cause widespread violations of state environmental laws by threatening endangered species, marring natural resources and compromising recreational opportunities.”

GENE FELDER

Laguna Beach

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Toll road opponents should attend meeting

Trestles and San Onofre are still under attack. It is up to each one of us who cares about open space and state parks, to show up and be part of history again!

The Transportation Corridor Agency has appealed to the Secretary of Commerce for permission to pave over our waves and our beloved San Onofre State Beach.

We need to make it clear to the Bush administration that our state parks, our surf breaks and our historical and cultural sites are not up for grabs.

Please, consider taking the day off from work or school and attend the Federal appeal hearing regarding this urgent issue.

The hearing is scheduled Sept. 22 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, at O’Brien Hall, and will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.

The secretary of Commerce will not make a decision that day, but has until January before the new president takes office to make his decision regarding the fate of California state parks. They will continue taking comments until January as well.

Send your comments to: NOAA, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Room 6217, Washington D.C. 20230. For more information visit robin@friendsofthefoothills.org or ssekich@surfrider.org.

CAREY STROMBOTNE

Laguna Beach