Coastal Commission, Athens Group, Driftwood
Editor:
Let's set the record straight about the Coastal Commission hearing and 12-0 vote to deny Athens claim to vested rights at Hobo Aliso Ridge on Oct 16.
The Athens Group does not have vested rights to the Driftwood Estates (Hobo Aliso Ridge) property - this was the unanimous vote of the Coastal Commission. That Rick Zbur of Latham & Watkins, one of the largest law firms in the world, thinks this unanimous decision was because of inappropriate persuasion and impropriety by Penny Elia is surely absurd and laughable. If a huge law firm such as Latham & Watkins can't even get one single vote from the Coastal Commission then it stares us in the face that their argument was not strong enough and that it lacked factual basis. Stop your whining Mr. Zbur and face the music - you lost, and not everyone wants your client's development.
Fifty Laguna Beach residents/ activists were represented at the hearing and more testimony was given by activists from Ventura, Santa Monica and San Francisco as well.
Thank you Coastal Commission. Thank you Penny Elia and everyone who helped make this judgment happen. We celebrate this victory because for far too long and too often we have seen the natural beauty of our community sacrificed on the developers' block. Perhaps now The Athens Group will take a second look at their overly ambitious plans for their development of Greater Aliso Canyon and pay heed to what many of us have been saying: we do not want a superproject that threatens to destroy and disfigure much of our Canyon and it's ridgelines, least of all at the expense of our valuable natural resources, endangered species and ESHA.
We will remain steadfast and will fight to retain the existing environmental integrity of Aliso and Woods Canyon, Hobo Aliso Ridge and Aliso Creek.
Verna Rollinger, like the 12 Commissioners that voted against Athens vested rights claim, is on record as saying if developers attempt to circumvent established community standards and ask for numerous exemptions, variances, zoning changes, tradeoffs and deals, and if the improvements aren't evident then they are not right for Laguna Beach and she will not support them.
Help protect our natural resources by voting for Verna Rollinger on Nov 4; It's time to elect a City Council that listens to us and respects our environment.
Charlotte Masarik
Laguna Beach
