The proposed modifications to the Downtown Specific Plan are a speculative developer’s dream. It is a plan to take from the residents to benefit the few.
These changes would increase traffic, raise building heights and reduce required parking spaces. Do you want to have more cars hunting for a parking place? Do you want to have building heights increased one or two stories? Do you want to see block-long developments?
The existing standards offer great opportunities for creative individuals. We do not need to lower our standards. In fact, lower standards will most likely decrease the desirability of our downtown.
We need to tell our city officials that the existing Downtown Specific Plan has served us well. If they can’t improve it, they should leave it alone. They should serve the residents first.
Neil Fitzpatrick, Laguna Beach
