Rejuvenating Downtown
Tommy Bahama just closed its store and restaurant, leaving more empty windows in Laguna. The one thing everyone can agree on is that we have to do something different downtown. We are not decrepit, falling apart or needing a total tear down as Councilman Peter Blake and developers say—we are in need of rejuvenation, renovation and some new ideas. We need to reinvigorate Laguna and make it lively, fun and resident-friendly. The last thing we need to do is let developers come into downtown and combine lots to make huge buildings, increase the mass and height of buildings, and do away with parking requirements so it becomes restaurant row and chases away merchants. We do not need increased traffic and parking needs that large developments in downtown will bring.
The new Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) allowing all those things has already passed its first hurdle. The Planning Commission, while paying lip service to resident input, virtually ignored concerns and passed the new DSP up to City Council, saying it conforms to the General Plan. Tentatively scheduled for the Dec. 17 City Council meeting is a discussion of these changes. I urge all residents to attend and make your voice heard.
There is a newly formed grassroots organization, Laguna Residents First (LRF), that is fighting what they view as a total takeover of the essence of Laguna Beach—the small town, human friendly, quirky buildings that make downtown a virtual mosaic of styles, eras and experiences. LRF wants compatible development to what is already there—come, add to the creativeness of Laguna, but don’t mess with our core. Carmel would never allow big buildings, and we shouldn’t either. LRF is concerned that there could be enough votes by any City Council to allow this—certainly there is concern now. So, to put the control back in the hands of residents, they are proposing that a project with certain trigger metrics be put before the residents before it is allowed to proceed. A referendum letting the majority have a say in what our town will look like. Newport Beach did this—and they beat back huge apartment buildings. Costa Mesa has done this as well successfully. Let the people vote.
What we need are new ideas to rejuvenate downtown. How about creating a Downtown Working Group of residents, city staff and developers to recommend how to do this? But this group must be listened to—not just paid lip service as has happened in the past. I would love to see a maintenance ordinance for landlords. Walking through downtown shows buildings needing paint, new siding, etc. Are they waiting it out so developers will buy them out? They combine lots, so why bother to improve a building? Landlords should have pride in their buildings, and in Laguna, a lot of them are not doing their part. That would improve downtown immediately.
We also need to change the CUP process for merchants—let them sell what they want. Why has the city placed restrictions on them to protect other merchants who sell similar items? Let good ole competition be the decider. This is an important one because merchants say that is what is holding them back.
My favorite idea to rejuvenate downtown is to close off Park Avenue for a pedestrian mall. All European cities do that and it’s where the action is. Let’s say we do it one night a week to start. Tell merchants to be open til 9 p.m. Let the restaurants take over the sidewalks for outdoor seating (not the disastrous parklet that the owner of Alessa was forced to build). Carlsbad does this and even has a Farmer’s Market in the afternoon. Why couldn’t we have a Farmer’s Market on Forest—that would get people right next to the merchants. How about our local artists exhibiting there at night? Montmartre does that. If we didn’t close the whole street, how about half the street so the restaurants could have cafés set up and we’d only lose 24 parking spaces? Anyone else have ideas?
If we build on what we have, spruce it up, and come up with lively ideas to bring people to downtown, we have no need for mega developments and bigger, taller buildings. New—yes! Just make them compatible with what our wonderful Laguna is today.
Michèle Monda has lived in Laguna Beach for 15 years with her husband, Emil, and three sons. She is secretary of Laguna Beach Republicans and treasurer of Laguna Beach Sister Cities.
There are no statues of committes in any parks any where.
Working groups are people who can’t accept elections.
If you want input move your candidates BEFORE the election.
The solution to Laguna retail is getting the boot of the council off the neck of retailers who are TOLD what they can and cannot sell.
Suggestion: IN ‘n OUT. Once that happens everyone will agree!
Michele, you undermine a case worth making with hyperbole like this: “We are not decrepit, falling apart or needing a total tear down as Councilman Peter Blake and developers say—we are in need of rejuvenation, renovation and some new ideas.” I am no fan of Peter, and I don’t want to find out if we can absorb more hotel rooms. But no one has said the town needs a “total tear down.” I am sure that they would insist that “rejuvenation, renovation, and some new ideas” are precisely what they are proposing.
Thanks, for another thoughtful “Common Sense” article.
I agree that our city should have a Municipal Code ordinance on citywide or at very least a reasonable downtown commercial property building maintenance code. Code Enforcement would include an inspection that would be triggered by any 60-90 day vacant commercial property building.
The strategy of LagunaResidentsFirst.ORG is a referendum spin from “Let Laguna Vote” regarding development trigger thresholds that hold a high risk of liability to affect and adversely impact the quality of life of residents by increasing traffic, increase to density standards and increase current height limitation. LRF an organization should open referendum to include all commercial property developments; city development projects and/or large commercial housing projects that may have adverse neighborhood impacts.
Thank you Michele for bringing this to the public’s attention. The fact that Newport Beach and Costa Mesa (and I’m sure other OC cities) determined their was a need to put a process in place to get control of potential developer town-takeovers speaks volumes. As you state below – let the people vote!
“A referendum letting the majority have a say in what our town will look like. Newport Beach did this—and they beat back huge apartment buildings. Costa Mesa has done this as well successfully. Let the people vote”