Letter to Laguna Beach Planning Commission Requesting Continuance and Subcommittee
Let Laguna Live!
August 30, 2017
To: Honorable Chairperson Whitin and Distinguished Members of the Laguna Beach Planning Commission
“Let Laguna Live!” believes that Staff failed to incorporate the specific direction of the Commission into the most recent draft of the proposed ordinance. While the draft seems to eliminate references to the inventory by name, the “badges” hung on these properties without owner knowledge or consent remain.
Homeowners with properties listed on the inventory who have not opted to enroll in the Register object to the restrictions placed on their properties by these unwelcome and involuntary classifications. E, K and C designations, whether you call them “inventory” or not, continue to be a cloud on the title of the properties, which these homeowners never had an opportunity to contest.
This is a very big issue for these aggrieved property owners. After several meetings and little progress, “Let Laguna Live!” now requests that the hearing on this version of the ordinance (currently set for September 6, 2017) be continued. Our Board also feels very strongly that the time has come for the Planning Commission to establish a Planning Commission subcommittee to draft the ordinance, so that the views and concerns of the aggrieved property owners are considered.
“Let Laguna Live!” objects to the C, K and E designations as improper vestiges of the invalid inventory. We also object to the omnibus provision that houses 70 years old are presumed to be historic.
To be clear – “Let Laguna Live!” wholeheartedly supports an historic preservation program that is incentive-based and voluntary, as contemplated by the General Plan. We object to forced inclusion in a designation without actual due process, including the notice and opportunity to be heard, and just compensation in the case of a government taking.
Thank you,
“Let Laguna Live!”
Jeffrey Benedick, President
Marilyn Alexander, Secretary
“Let Laguna Live!” is not affiliated with “Let Laguna Vote”
I am one of the original homeowners who had their property stolen by the city in 1982. It was justbrought to my attention that federal Government law states that the city must allow new homeowners to opt out of any forced listing of homes on such a list involuntarily. As a 46 year property owner, this effects the value of my property by over a million dollars. Help!
Thanks for your comment, Ronald. Please help spread the word. Together we can stop the City.
I am against the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. If the City wants to preserve “historic” properties, buy the Property, then preserve it.