MAILBAG - Feb. 22, 2008

Ocean views must be protected at vista points

Editor’s Note: The following letter was written to Al Trevino of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Beautification Council.

It is good that you are trying to improve the beauty of Laguna Beach. Thank you for this effort. I enjoyed the article in today’s newspaper (“Beautifying street ends,” Feb. 15) about asking architectural students at Cal Poly [Pomona] to give input to the Beautification Committee for improving the ends of the streets in Laguna.

Here is something I would like you to think about as future plans are made for the ends of the streets that allow unobstructed views of the ocean. When I looked closely at the student’s drawing in the paper I saw she would like add three trees to the small park at Cress Street.

I know that many landscape architects are in love with trees and they often want to do what they call framing the view with plants and architecture. While designing the ends of our streets I ask you to not allow this kind of development to occur. The ocean view does not need to be framed or obstructed in any way. It is beautiful enough to stand on its own.

The views of the ocean could be obstructed for people up the street if plans are not designed to protect these view corridors. These little slivers of ocean views that can be found throughout our town must be protected.

This is my request: Please keep all of the vegetation relatively low. A person sitting on a bench should have an unobstructed view of the surf. Do not build structures taller than a railing. Protect the views for people who are looking at the ocean from up the street.

People go to these vista points to see the expanse of the ocean. Do not destroy that ability while trying to improve the beauty of the site. Neither trees nor structures will make the ocean more beautiful.

Laguna Beach

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Steps now to reduce waste will pay off later

I am a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, having moved here in 1989 from Corona Del Mar. One of the primary reasons for the move was that we, as a family, viewed Laguna Beach to be more progressive as a community on many fronts. One of those areas was environmental protection and sensitivity. This was the opposite of what we were experiencing in the community of Corona Del Mar.

I must say that although I have enjoyed the benefits of living in Laguna Beach, I have not been active in getting involved at the community level to address issues that are becoming problems for our little town and the world around us.

That being said, I feel it is imperative that we take action on the environmental side immediately. Whether or not anyone is willing to face it, things are deteriorating rapidly in the world and even in our village. For this week, the plea I am making is sustainability. The waste generated by restaurants in this village is staggering and unnecessary.

One local proprietor, La Sirena Grill, has taken the valiant and admirable step of going “green” in every sense of the word from the food purchased to the utensils provided for take-out.

It is time for the city of Laguna Beach and its citizens to mandate and insist every restaurant and food establishment buy and provide utensils and take-out materials that are made from renewable resources and subsequently disappear without causing harm or future damage to the environment around us.

It is a very easy step, just ask the owners of La Sirena Grill. It may cost us slightly more for take-out food, but it is more than worth it, as the cost to us and our children down the road will make the pennies spent today seem trivial.

Urge the food establishments that you frequent to make the change, write letters to City Council, the Environmental committee and reach out to the Chamber of Commerce. We can make this happen and no one will regret it. It is one small change that improves Laguna Beach for residents and visitors alike.

Laguna Beach