I am an ordinary citizen who has made every attempt to be informed and active in my local community. I spent many years on the boards of Laguna Ocean Foundation and the Orange County Marine Protected Area Council. I actively represented LOF and OCMPAC at the Fish and Wildlife Commission hearings on the Marine Life Protection Act and helped bring our MPAs to Laguna. Additionally, I have attended conferences about sea level rise and other ocean-related issues and assisted in several studies of the Laguna coastline. I am no newbie to Laguna’s coast.
I am confused why the city seems to think we need new rules along our bluffs. I am bewildered if it takes a 200-page book to simplify our codes. Given the beauty and healthiness of our coastline, might our codes be doing something right?
When, and on what grounds, did the city decide it no longer had to concern itself with environmental quality? And, not just the common sense of doing a study to determine the environmental impact of any irrevocable action which may, and in all likelihood would, violate the EQA and/or the Coastal Act, especially if litigation were brought. Is the city also abandoning the environmental quality of all of our lives?
As a city of the arts, one of our greatest treasures is our many and varied views of the coast and ocean as one drives from city limit to city limit and up and down our hills. When the Montage was built, the city council insisted on the ocean-view park and walking paths for everyone to enjoy. The city has surrounded itself with wilderness to preserve our well-being from our neighbors’ over-development. Have you driven Coast Highway through Dana Point recently? Do we want that in Laguna?
Have you walked along any of our beaches recently? In many places, one can look inland and see our mountains and blue sky—open, free. You will also see examples of erosion caused by our heavier and more violent waves, rain runoff or irritation saturation. The cause doesn’t matter; when the land gives way, it’s gone.
How do “recent studies” justify changing a code from 25′ to slightly more than 0′? What studies, by whom, and how recent? Did they consider climate change? Are there studies that would justify changing the code to more than 25 feet? More to the point, would you really want to live on zero?
This is a big issue; we should discuss it as a community. Let’s ensure we all understand exactly what is proposed, why, and its potential pluses and minuses. Please, let’s pause and not rush into something we may regret.
Louise B. Thornton, Laguna Beach
Thank you Louise for your many years protecting Laguna’s coastline and sea life.
The proposed Blufftop Ordinance will lead to development and re-development projects that penetrate the protective bluff soil and rock mantle for “foundation repairs”. Each blufftop piercing for caissons will cumulatively weaken the integrity of the bluff and allow water to seep in and eventually collapse the bluff.
The propose ordinance relies on using existing development patterns and string line, many of which are illegal, non-conforming encroachments, to justify more encroachment seaward. Let’s not let previous encroachments be grounds for more blufftop destruction. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.
Am I being too simplistic? As regards the ‘ adjustments ‘ to our bluffs the city considers …… has anyone noticed the serious bluff issues blossoming along north and south San Clemente? Why would we loosen bluff restrictions in an ever increasing degradation of our bluffs, due to increasing elemental pressures of wind, water, and atmospheric rivers ?
San Clemente is the canary in the toxic mine.
The City needs to listen to the bird’s message. NOT the developer’s !