Proposed ballot measure would require residents’ approval for major development in Laguna Beach

After an effort to give Laguna Beach residents a strong say in the fate of development projects within the city was curbed by the coronavirus pandemic last spring, the grassroots group Laguna Residents First submitted a notice of intent on Wednesday for a proposed ballot initiative that would do just that.

The nonprofit advocacy group, concerned with preserving the environment and heritage of the coastal community, is calling on residents to defend the look and feel of the town by enabling voters to have their voices heard concerning approval of major development projects.

The organization previously filed a notice of intent with the city on March 6 of last year, but the pandemic prevented supporters from collecting the necessary signatures in person.

For the proposed ballot initiative to appear on the ballot for the November 2022 election, signatures equal to 10% or more of the city’s registered voters as of the last election will have to be collected. Laguna Residents First will be aiming to collect roughly 2,000 signatures, David Raber, a co-founder of the political action committee, said.

If approved, the proposal would result in the establishment of an ordinance that would allow residents to vote on major development or redevelopment projects within 750 feet of Coast Highway or Laguna Canyon Road, the routes leading into and out of the city.

“Laguna’s a unique town in an unusual location, and we need to preserve its value for residents, merchants and visitors alike,” Merrill Anderson, assistant treasurer for Laguna Residents First, said in a statement. “Overdevelopment and gridlock are valid concerns, and residents should have the right to vote on projects that could affect their property values, as well as their quality of life.”

The ballot initiative argues that increasing traffic raises concerns for public safety, public health and quality of life, and that land use intensification should be approached carefully due to the limited size of the city.

It asks for major development projects to be unique, mindful of the impacts on neighbors and visitors, and consider ways to preserve the town’s aesthetic beauty.

Raber said he believes that projects reviewed by the residents as well as the city council, result in better outcomes, citing the Montage resort as one such example.

“I just know what a quality job was done there in planning,” Raber said. “I can’t help but think that having the residents vote on accepting a very large project kind of raises the bar for developers to really think about the impact of the development on the community, on the environment, and come up with a good proposal that would make sense for the operators, the owners, of course, but also makes sense for the community.”

The initiative provides a handful of criteria that would trigger a vote by residents, including projects that would see an average of at least 200 additional daily trips in town and those that do not supply a “reasonably necessary number” of spaces for parking.

Projects utilizing contiguous lots to form a single parcel exceeding 7,500 square feet (or 6,000 square feet where the Downtown Specific Plan applies) would also be subject to voter approval under the measure.

Residential projects with less than 10 units, low-income housing, and projects exclusively pertaining to the development of a school for students in kindergarten through high school, a hospital, a museum or a place of worship would not be subject to the initiative.

Nor would refurbishment projects to address damage from earthquakes, fire, flooding, wind or other disasters, provided that the structure does not exceed its “original size, placement and density.”

The proposal is currently being reviewed by the city. Once the ballot title and summary are provided by the city attorney, Laguna Residents First will have 180 days to circulate the petition. Prior to circulation, a notice of intent with the ballot title and summary must be published by the proponents.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters will have 30 business days to verify signatures upon their submission.

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