Editor,
Great News for Laguna’s Greenbelt; more land is donated for open space (“ Contested Tract Dedicated for Public Use,” Dec. 10 edition).
75 acres of Hobo Aliso Ridge, aka Driftwood Estates, (and the likely addition of an adjacent 80 acres) is now permanent open space scheduled for restoration. This gift to the city by Driftwood LLC is nothing less than a miracle, an unexpected and wonderful donation. Penny Elia deserves much credit for fighting hard to save, protect and restore this abused land. Penny showed the same resolve and commitment as was demonstrated by the Laguna Bluebelt members who fought for a city-wide MLPA marine reserve.
Thank you Penny Elia, for quietly and tenaciously working behind the scenes throughout the past five years and finally securing this incredible treasure for us.
Thank you John Mansour/ Driftwood LLC/Athens Group, for your generous gift to Laguna Beach and the restoration and permanent protection of these environmentally sensitive lands.
Thank you Coastal Commission, for operating in an honest and transparent manner, working to secure the restoration and subsequent protection of our coastal lands forever.
Thank you to so many others in Laguna Beach for the hard work, landmark achievements and acquisitions they accomplished this year for the Greenbelt and the Bluebelt.
Let the green and blue bells ring in the New Year!
Charlotte and Alex Masarik, Laguna Beach
