A plea to have the city not make the same mistake again
Ed. Note: This letter was sent to members of the Laguna Beach Planning Commission

About two years ago my husband and I joined our neighbors in a protracted battle to stop the massive development at the corner of Alta Loma and Ceanothus that came to be known as the Ceanothus Development.

We argued against the sheer mass and scale of the project, which eventually obliterated the small hillside on which these four overbearing structures are packed together today. We argued that the excavation of this hillside would result in a disruption in the quality of our lives and encroach upon natural habitat, a natural watercourse, and open space. More than 20,000 yards of material would be hauled over our roads and in front of our homes on a daily basis for months.

We eventually endured over six months of daily pounding by machines designed for use on huge commercial projects, which caused our walls to shudder, crack and drove some of us away to seek relief.

You have only to look at the subject project to understand that it will have the same and worse impacts on this neighborhood.

According to the report, this proposed project will encroach on high value habitat, which includes at least one citing of a gnatcatcher, a native shrub that lives only in Orange and San Diego Counties, and what is termed as a significantwatercourse. Amazingly, the city has found that there is no need for an EIR. How can it be that project after project in areas such as these never needs an EIR. That process is in place to vet issues of disruption to the environment, quality of life, etc. It is in place so that due consideration can be given to the cumulative impacts of building.

What is this city afraid of? Why are we not afforded the protections of the CEQA process? Developers don't like EIRs - they cost money, take time, and, bring to light the potential problems of a project. That is what that law is all about.

Two years ago despite our pleas and all common sense, the Design Review Board approved the Ceanothus Development. Later, members of the city council, the design review board and the city manager would look at the gaping hole and listen to the pounding excavation machines and say, "if they'd know then… this would have been handled differently".

Yes. If an EIR had been required an awful lot would have been done differently.

We urge you to learn from this experience and direct that an EIR be completed before this project moves any further in this process.

We believe that your Commission owes that to its citizens. In fact we believe that is what the citizens of Laguna Beach expect.
Thank you.
Pamela and Jim Kosik
Laguna Beach