Letters to the Editor: Balance the need for historic preservation with necessary flexibility

Laguna Beach’s historic inventory, professionally developed and officially adopted in 1981, lists properties built before 1940 that had kept their historic value at that time. Since the inventory was adopted by a City Council resolution it does not lose its validity, but it does need to be culled of properties that no longer possess historic character. As originally adopted, the inventory was simply an official listing of those properties that, at the request of the property owner, were eligible for inclusion on the city’s historic register.

Question: What has changed from 1981 to now? Answer: California law.

Without exception, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) now requires local jurisdictions to treat all properties that are 45 years or older as potential historic resources, whether or not they appear on a local inventory. After official review, being determined to have no significant historic value is the only way for a property to be exempted from provisions that relate to treatment of historic resources.

The current process of revising Laguna’s historic preservation ordinance is designed to satisfy state law requirements and to make life easier for owners of historic properties. The ordinance specifies that, whenever allowed under state law, local, more flexible guidelines can be developed for guiding remodels of historic properties that, along with other similar properties, enhance the character of our city and its neighborhoods rather than being individually significant.

Laguna has previously had no such guidelines, employing the state and federal standards that are not tailored to local conditions. Far from “tightening” restrictions, the draft ordinance seeks to loosen restrictions that in the past have proven to be problematic.

In addition, when alterations for remodels or maintenance preserve the character of a historic property, the proposed ordinance offers multiple incentives, including more relaxed development standards than non-historic properties enjoy, as well as reduced city fees and opportunities for reduced property taxes. It also provides that the city, rather than the property owner, will pay for the state-required historic evaluation that potentially historic buildings 45 years or older undergo.

The draft ordinance seeks to clarify requirements, loosen restrictions that in the past have proven to be problematic, and provide additional incentives for owners of historic properties. It seeks to balance preservation of Laguna’s historic resources while providing increased flexibility and benefits for property owners.

Charlotte Masarik

Laguna Beach

Costa Mesa needs additional parkland

I recently reviewed the Daily Pilot article on the newly proposed Costa Mesa committee that will be used to help determine how to spend Measure Z funds (“Discussion of 17-member youth sports and recreation committee pulled from Costa Mesa council agenda,” May 16).

I’m all for youth sports, but the money raised from Measure Z is earmarked to be used on other things (like creating new park space), not just sports-related investments.

Did you know that in District 4, we have just three parks, and one isn’t much more than a park bench on a patch of grass (Raleigh Park)? The other two (Shalimar and Ketchum-Liebolt) are just pocket parks on the periphery.

The heart of our district (the area bound by Victoria Street/Harbor Boulevard/19th Street/Placentia Avenue) is full of families. There is not one place to take young children to play in open space within walking distance.

This area is our oldest, least-planned section of city and contains our most-vulnerable youth. However, all members of this committee are representing youth sports. Why is there no general public representation for our other priorities?

I would prefer we left the youth sports advocacy to Costa Mesa United, which has done an excellent, non-politicized job for years, and the new city committee represented other resident interests in making Measure Z spending policy.

I would also hope that developing family and community open space in underserved segments of the city is a high priority for Measure Z Funds.

Julie Fowler

Costa Mesa

Shaken and stirred by Roger Moore’s performances

English actor Roger Moore — who played poker as one of the original “Maverick” brothers back in 1959, been Simon Templar in “The Saint” in the 1960s and claimed fame as James Bond in seven Bond movies — has sadly died at 89. Moore has been in other endeavors, but none so lasting and almost typecast as the flamboyant and adroit Bond.

Moore’s suave demeanor, debonair persona and, of course, the famous axiom of all who played the super-agent, “Bond, James Bond,” will most certainly be missed by his fans, friends and family.

Bill Spitalnick

Newport Beach

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