Editors,
I live on Bluebird Canyon Drive and I disagree with Jeff Tyler (“Disputing Sweat Lodge Reporting,” Letters, April 13).
Andrew Soliz has no neighbor living on the right side of the property. There is a street. This is not a cul-de-sac at all. On the other side of Mr. Soliz’s property is a children’s day care. Mr. Soliz’s property is enormous for Laguna standards. The tipi and lodge had plenty of space, nothing was crowded. There is one person above Mr. Soliz and I find it hard to believe that any activity far below would affect their ocean view.
Andrew Soliz is a new resident. As a former new resident, I can testify to the territorial attitudes of longtime residents in Laguna Beach. Maybe Andrew mistakenly thought this was a free spirited artistic environment. This is after all Orange County, an area known for uptight conservative values.
Mr. Soliz is unique in being an American Indian, with his rights to practice religion offered special protection. The odds of being allowed that freedom in Laguna Beach may be slim, but ultimately this may not be for the city or surrounding neighbors to decide.
It’s hard to determine what the real issues are when such a nasty spin is put on everything Mr. Soliz does. I’m glad my garage is just a garage and I’m thankful we aren’t all held to such scrutiny.
Rachel Uchizono, Laguna Beach
Rachel, please allow me to correct a few of your facts: since you don’t live within a hundred feet of Mr. Soliz as i do, your criticism is suspect. if you had bothered to drive our street or even look at a map you would discover that he does live on a narrow cul-de-sac and he does have neighbors on all sides. (only a portion of his backyard fronts a street). You went to rant about how large his yard is, but that does not allow him to build illegal structures, and you further state that our oceans views are affected, wrong again, there are no ocean views at street level-this was never an issue about views. Lastly you state that you thought Laguna stood for artistic freedom and allowing people like Mr. Soliz to honor his native american heritage….. Laguna Beach has wonderful history of tolerance, as does Bluebird Canyon and it’s long-time residents and newcomers. We choose to live here because of that tradition of tolerance. This is an issue about Mr. Soliz building large structures in his yard and grading land without permits, then operating two very public, very high-impact businesses from his home without any businesses license, or even the curtiousy of telling his neighbors. Bluebird canyon is a special place, it’s a quiet, peaceful canyon that doesn’t need a public sweat lodge and a paid women’s retreat. there’s plenty of great venues in the canyon. i suggest you study the facts before you pen another letter.
Dear Ms. Uchizono,
I am so sorry to hear you don’t have your facts straight. I believe that this isn’t quite the “nasty spin” you say it is… If you lived on Bluebird as Mr. Tyler had stated, you might know that his back yard is on Oriole, but his house is on Meadowlark Drive and yes, there are neighbors on all sides and yes, it is a very narrow cul-de-sac. This has nothing to do with space or overcrowding, views, etc.. Please know this is true, I live here. We have had many days where there are cars along the street on Meadowlark, which is very narrow. The fire department has come out about this as well, not only for him, but other neighbors. Most of the neighbors here have canyon views, not ocean views. Ocean views are not part of anything to do with this..so, unfortunately, it shows you might not know what the issues are , again.. Yes, you are correct in that there is a daycare, however, it FULLY LICENSED with the state of California and city. It is NOT a school, nor are there 50,000 kids in it. There are maybe 4-6 of which many being small children. Please know, Mr. Soliz seems nice, I do not think “nasty” things about him or his family, nor about his right to practice his religion. However, there are ordinances, like in every city. I practice a religion, but do not have people at my house for baptisms weekly or even monthly, nor do we have a mosque or temple in my backyard. There used to be a church on Morningside drive, but it was zoned for it, permitted, licensed and approved by the city. Mr. Soliz should be able to apply for the same things (go through design review, permits, etc.. and then be approved or denied to put up the structure).., however, I am not too sure it will pass as he lives in a residential neighborhood and things need to confirm to the neighborhood. Just like in every other neighborhood in Laguna Beach, why should my property value be dependent on his tipi and rights to practice his ceremonies. So not being the same type of thing. Unfortunately, the tipi structure was large,this wasn’t just a “little kitchen window” he put in unpermitted..it was 25 feet high. I respect the fact he wants to practice.. however, having a tipi and retreats here in a residential neighborhood is not the place or we will have businesses in every backyard. He advertised and had a paypal account in which to pay for these things. These are just the regulations. I am not sure you were living here when another home owner used to have weddings at his house for random people, then city put the kabosh on that too for obvious reasons. Each city has regulations for a reason about businesses, design, zoning, etc… Unfortunately, there is more to this story, if you want to find out more, go visit the city of Laguna Beach and they can tell you.
Dear Ms. Uchinzono,
I read Mr. Tyler’s letter and found it a simple account of the facts. Something Independent readers are clearly not getting from Rita Robinson’s reporting.
For the record, I am the owner of the property often described as a “daycare” that sits adjacent to Andrew Solitz and Carrie Woodburn’s property. It is my home, my residence and the place where I live with my husband and two children. It is also a Licensed Small Childcare Home that operates in complete compliance with state and city zoning regulations.
The only issue at hand (with no nasty spin) is neighborhood compatibility. It has nothing to do with “ocean views”, “religious freedom” or xenophobic neighbors. It has everything to do with city zoning laws and policies that dictate neighborhood standards.
If Mr. Solitz and Ms. Woodburn want to run their business and hold seminars, workshops and public sweat lodge sessions, there are plenty of properties zoned for commercial business available for lease or for sale in Laguna. I could even recommend a good real estate agency if they need help finding one.
Sincerely,
Tricia Harper
“Territorial Attitudes Unfairly Bruise A Newcomer”??? I am a neighbor. The issue of Mr. Soliz’ large tipi, sweat lodge, and illegal grading have nothing to do with “territorial attitudes”, or being “unfair”. Mr. Soliz did not obtain a permit for anything…including the high-impact business he ran with the structures in question.
Rachel wrote, “I’m thankful we aren’t all held to such scrutiny”…but we are. Make no mistake…..if a LONG TIME resident (or American Indian, or Presbyterian, or Mormon, or newcomer, or…etc.) erects such structures and frequently invites a paid clientele (ie. many parked vehicles and strangers) to a quiet neighborhood you better believe the immediate neighbors would take issue. “Surrounding neighbors” are in no way DECIDING if Mr. Soliz has the freedom to practice his religion…and the city isn’t preventing him from his religion either.
The “real issues” Rachel is wondering about are actually quite simple. This is a residential neighborhood wishing to remain a residential neighborhood. If Mr. Soliz (or ANY one else) would like to put up structures and run a business with them then he needs to get a business license (for which this residential area is surely not zoned…for solid reasons) and go through Design Review like everybody else.
The insinuation in the media that the surrounding neighbors and city have taken action regarding Mr. Soliz’ infractions because he’s Native American, or a “newcomer”, or because of a desire to prevent him from practicing his religion, is what is most maddening….RIDICULOUS actually!
In reply to everyone that my facts are incorrect: you are right. I was off on the location of Andrew’s property. (As are many people who mistakenly knock on Tricia’s door thinking it was the house with the tipi). He and Carrie have an enormous property with an ocean view. The tipi enhances the area and bothers no one but uptight conservatives like you.
I live on Bluebird Canyon Dr. and I can testify to the territorial and nasty attitudes of certain neighbors. I have had the police called so many times for minor idiotic things, that I have lost count. I cannot make a move in my own home without being threatened with jail time. However, my next store neighbor’s 6’ 3” 43 year old son can come pounding on my front door, drunk and in a rage, break the stained glass and physically threaten my 16 year old son with no consequences. The police didn’t believe me and I had witnesses. They are “old Laguna” and are above the law here. The only way to protect my family was to go outside the city for a judge’s order. How many of you have filed a restraining order against your neighbor? Judges don’t just hand these out, I had to prove menace. Luckily I had been documenting for years.
Dear Tricia, I know you are “Bluebird Canyon” neighbor on Albert the Indian cyber stalker’s website and I thought your comments were disgusting. I would share the link but the conversation is gone. You have the right to comply with city regulations for your business. Andrew is not running a day care, nor is this a business. People are invited to ceremony. Prove otherwise.
I am a single Mother and have raised two boys in Laguna Beach. It may have been as artist colony at one time but the free spirited joy is coming to an end. We can only hope to keep the good feelings alive with people like Andrew and Carrie.
Sincerely,
Rachel Uchizono
PS Tricia, I found the conversation that I found online so wrong and twisted that I printed it out. You incredibly judgmental.