Coastal Commission has a limited purpose What...

Coastal Commission has a limited purpose

What should the California Coastal Commission base its ACT V

decision on?

Simple. First, adhere strictly to its own mission statement:

“Protect, conserve, restore and enhance environmental and human-based

resources of the California coast and ocean for environmentally

sustainable and prudent use by current and future generations.”

Next, follow the time-worn quip: “How do you make love to a

porcupine? Very carefully!”

That means they should remember that they are an appointed, not

elected, body, so they should yield to what local elected officials

and the majority of the electorate have already selected as their

option.

In the case of ACT V, their sole charter is to assure shoreline

public access. Both plans accomplish that desire. All they have to do

is confirm that fact and gracefully bow out without becoming

carpetbaggers. End of story -- I wish.

DENNIS MYERS

Laguna Beach

Telling renovations have started

Well the time has arrived for the renovation of at least the

historic parking lot of what we once knew as the Pottery Shack. It is

now chained off with a sign that says “Valet Parking only for the

Surf and Sand.”

If you check the number of cars parked in the lot on weekends you

will find that the lot is full. The “savior” of the Pottery Shack is

now permitting the importation of cars into a neighborhood that, even

according to our City Council, cannot stand the additional impact of

more cars on our streets. To quote a local environmental expert Roger

Von Butow, “Why are we letting more people (or cars) into our

Lifeboat?”

This lack of concern on the part of the new owner seems to be an

indication of what could be in our future. We should pay attention

and see what the future holds.

In that regard, congratulations to the Village Laguna’s July

Newsletter which was one of the few, if not the only publication,

which stated one of the concerns of the neighborhood in their

statement that the “attempt to rule out office building fails.” They

seem to be among the few who truly understood the conversation

between the council and Joe Hanauer when he indicated that the office

building was not part of this presentation, leaving it open for

consideration in a future application.

One wonders if those on the City Council, who indicated that they

understood the parking problems of the neighborhood, really do.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson indicated that she would make it a

point to look into the problems and seek some relief.

Also testimony regarding the deep concern as to the parking

problem of the entire city was expressed by both Pearson and

Councilwoman Toni Iseman at the California Coastal Commission

meeting. Is Hanauer allowing valet parking from the Surf and Sand to

the Pottery Shack lot the answer? I would say Hanauer is

acknowledging the neighborhood parking problem. Possibly someone

(city staffers) should look into the permit issued to the Surf and

Sand. Was on-site parking to be provided by the hotel and restaurant?

If there were parking provisions for their employees and customers in

spaces other than neighborhood streets it would be the first step in

relieving neighborhood parking problems.

TOM AND DARRYLIN GIRVIN

Village Flatlanders

Neighborhood Assn.

George Moore was a Laguna treasure

This is the Kalos Kagathos Foundation proposal to officially

dedicate Main Beach in the name of the legendary George Moore.

Laguna’s first and only year-round owner of the beach colony’s

youth employment office, Moore was surrogate father, teacher and

surf-sports mentor for the generations of teenage surf rats who made

the beach their favorite hang out, refuge and sports mall. He offered

surfing, volleyball, junior guard, body boarding and tax-free income

hustling Moore’s rafts.

When personal problems needed resolution Moore was there,

dispensing uncompromising, expect-no-sympathy, truly

surrogate-father, nondoctrinal homilies -- not those expected from

home.

There are no George Moores in Laguna. There’s too much suspicion,

age segregation and beach territorialism.

George Moore Main Beach celebrates the quintessential legacy of

Laguna Beach.

BRUCE S. HOPPING

Laguna Beach

* The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If you would

like to submit a letter, write to us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach,

CA 92652; fax us at (949) 494-8979; or send e-mail to

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