View Preservation Rules Should Not Omit Fences

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Editor,

My name is Joseph Risi and I am the owner of a home located at 1283 Skyline. A very unfortunate incident has occurred which shines a light on the disparity that exists with the city ordinances regarding view protection. If a new home or remodel is proposed in Laguna, the Design Review Board as well as the neighbors are involved in determining what can be built. The primary concern that most neighbors have is view preservation.

There is also a view corridor ordinance relative to plants and landscape where views must be protected as well. One cannot grow a plant or tree that would interrupt an existing view. Then why is there no ordinance which prevents a property owner from erecting a six-foot tall sideyard fence, which can destroy an ocean and Catalina Island view? This is particularly relevant on the steeper streets like Skyline, Nyes Place, Park, and Bluebird. Lots are stair-stepped as they continue up the grade and lot lines are typically at the point where the step occurs.

In my case, my home is about 10 feet higher than the neighbor’s below at 1275 Skyline. They proceeded to pull an over the counter permit to erect a six-foot tall wooden fence between our properties. This fence is higher than their roof and yet they were able to build this fence, which obliterates my ocean and island views. His fence does not enclose his yard for containment, but serves his purpose to block our views. And the city is okay with this.

If view preservation is a primary intent in these other governing ordinances and DRB procedures, there needs to be an ordinance to prohibit tall fences which interrupt the same. My neighborhood has special setback requirements than typical because of the conditions on our street and these same conditions should be used to create a new fence ordinance.

I call upon the city for an emergency moratorium prohibiting construction of fences as described in my letter. I appeal to your good senses to put an end to this nonsense and to be consistent with our ordinances, thus being fair to all.

Joseph Risi, Laguna Beach

 

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