McKay, Ann Marie CC
Subject: City Clerk & City Council Public Comment Form
From: Laguna Beach, CA <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:55 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>; McKay, Ann Marie CC <[email protected]>; Baldridge, Cheryl CC <[email protected]>
Subject: *NEW SUBMISSION* City Clerk & City Council Public Comment Form City Clerk & City Council Public Comment Form
Full Name
Steve Goldstein
What is the subject of your comment?
Amendment to LBMC Chapter 12.16.050 to ADUs built after 2016 Is the item you wish to comment about on the upcoming City Council agenda? No
If the item is on the agenda, what number is it?
Comment
I respectfully request that the City Council amend LBMC Chapter 12.16 to clarify that ADUs constructed after 2016 are not entitled to the benefits of the View Preservation Ordinance, including view recordation or protection. ADUs built pursuant to California Assembly Bill 2299 and Senate Bill 1069 (the "State ADU Laws") may bypass Laguna Beach's design review process and be constructed without community input. These laws were enacted to address the state's housing shortage, not to create or protect new views. Extending view protection to views created by ADUs places neighboring property owners in an inherently inequitable position and is inconsistent with legislative intent. The View Preservation Ordinance was adopted in 2003, long before the State ADU Laws, and was intended to protect or restore pre-existing views, not views created by later development. A "pre-existing view" is defined as one that existed on or after the earlier of the property's acquisition date or November 4, 2003. See LBMC §12.60.020. Any ADU constructed after 2016 would necessarily post-date this deadline, and views created by such construction should therefore not qualify for protection. Although the definition of "pre-existing view" is clear, LBMC §12.60.040 is ambiguous as to whether view recordation is limited to views existing before the deadline or instead applies to any "principal residence," a term that includes secondary units. Without clarification, an ADU owner could argue that a newly created view is entitled to recordation, resulting in fundamental unfairness to neighbors. The Ordinance is intended to balance competing equities, including view preservation and privacy protection. For homes and additions subject to design review, neighbors may raise privacy concerns during the public process. ADUs constructed under the State ADU Laws, however, may bypass design review entirely, leaving neighbors with no opportunity to seek mitigation and no recourse other than vegetation to restore lost privacy. Allowing post-2016 ADUs to record new views would eliminate this balance of equities and undermine the Ordinance's purpose. Accordingly, I respectfully request that the City Council clarify that LBMC $12.60.040 does not apply to new views created by ADUs constructed after 2016 where new square footage is added. This clarification will promote fairness, neighborhood harmony, and reduce costly disputes. I would be honored to discuss this at the 1/27 meeting.
1 McKay, Ann Marie CC
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PUBLIC COMMENTS--PRIVATE VIEWS BLOCKED BY CITY TREES
Attachments: LB Downtown Specific Plan.pdf; CC 10.28.2025 Staff Report.pdf From: Larry Zeman
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2026 11:49 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>; Rounaghi, Alex <[email protected]>; Whalen, Bob <[email protected]>; Kempf, Sue <[email protected]>; Orgill, Mark <[email protected]>; Jones, Hallie <[email protected]>; Kiff, Dave CM <[email protected]>
Cc: McKay, Ann Marie CC <[email protected]›; RICHARD PLAVETICH; jeannemeyers; Kerry Trevino; JohnTrevino
Subject: Jan.13 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PUBLIC COMMENTS--PRIVATE VIEWS BLOCKED BY CITY TREES Dear City Council Members and City Manager:
This will spotlight the City eucalyptus trees at the Glenneyre parking lot that block my views and those of at least two of my neighbors on Los Robles Street.
The City Arborist's position that the City should not trim its trees to protect private views contradicts The Laguna Downtown Specific Plan requiring the City's protection of private views blocked by City trees.
Supporting documents and excerpts are attached and below:
Laguna's Downtown Specific Plan
• Page 77—Topic 7: View Preservation
Goal: Preserve the downtown views of the hillsides, beach and ocean.
Issue Statement and Discussion
Laguna Beach's natural and scenic beauty requires efforts for view preservation both in terms of building design and landscaping.
The protection and enhancement of significant views is an important urban design issue. The hillsides and oceanfront that border and surround the downtown provide many prominent scenic views. These views can be hindered or enhanced depending upon the respect and attention they are given as part of the design process. 1 Proper consideration of views involves both creating and preserving view corridors.
Preservation involves protecting against the blockage or interference of significant views by the insensitive siting or enlargement of buildings. Sensitive design concepts can enhance views by highlighting or framing them. Trees can impact views, but when properly trimmed and maintained, they provide a framing of critical vistas. Trees along Broadway and Forest Avenue are examples of proper framing.
The views encountered most often from downtown streets and sidewalks are those of nearby hillsides and narrow view corridors to the beach and ocean. These views lend a first-hand sense of the natural environment and contribute substantially to the enjoyment of the environment."
• Page 77—Topic 7 Policies:..3. Consider impact of tree selection and maintenance of trees on views.
City Arborist's July 22, 2025 Agenda Report attached to the Staff Report for October 28, 2025 City Council Meeting
• Page 6—"pruning public trees for the sole purpose of view enhancement is not recommended".
• The City Arborist made this position abundantly clear at both the July 22 and October 28 City Council Meetings.
The City Arborist's program makes no attempt to preserve private views blocked by City trees as required by the Downtown Specific Plan.
Beyond these view issues, the City is aware of the danger posed by the eucalyptus trees at the Glenneyre parking lot of falling into the street and injuring persons and property. Attached is the video of that scenario occurring at South Coast near Cleo on December 24 as well as a similar situation the same day in San Diego. These are cautionary tales to avoid with the vulnerable eucalyptus trees at the Glenneyre parking lot.
A tree replacement program was mentioned at the October 26 Council Meeting to address situations such as this. That would be worth pursuing to replace the Glenneyre eucalyptus with appropriate trees for that area both to preserve views and to assure public safety.
Thank you for your consideration.
Larry Zeman
Los Robles Street
Canyon Acres 164 D64
Caught the tree that shut down Cleo and ...
Caught the tree that shut down Cleo and Coast
highway on my dash cam.
nextdoor.com