Property rights should win
Jeff Garner would like to build a home for his son on a legal lot
dubbed "the dip house" by opponents of his project.
Garner is a longtime Laguna resident and respected architect. His
record of environmental awareness and building acumen speaks for
itself through the legacy of homes and buildings he has designed.
Not surprisingly, a few neighbors, in a class example of
NIMBY-ism, oppose him. They cite environmental and safety concerns.
Where was their concern for this environmentally sensitive area when
they built their homes along the same canyon?
The safety issues they raise make little sense. There has been a
house directly across the street from the proposed site for more than
half a century. People have routinely come and gone safety from this
residents without endangering pedestrians or drivers. You cannot
convince me that one side of Glenneyre Street is more dangerous than
another.
Central to this matter is a basic question of property rights. Can
the owner of a legal building site bought in good faith build on it,
or is that right overshadowed by the self-interests of a few
neighbors?
I urge the Design Review Board to recognize the objections of the
neighbors for what they are and to facilitate this endeavor.
I am also a neighbor of the proposed "dip house."
MICHAEL HALLINAN
Laguna Beach
Mangels sets the record straight
I was surprised and disappointed to read in Karen Petty's Oct. 8
letter ("Facts vs. Gene Felder's politicking," Coastline Pilot) her
assumption that "Anita Mangels, the current president of the Festival
of Arts Board of Directors, also made a recommendation to the board
to pursue a nonexclusive contract with ICM, "a creative management
firm."
Nothing could be further from the truth. Prior to my election, I
made very clear to the board my opposition to a contract with ICM or
any other agency for the purpose of sanctioning or facilitating
productions of the Pageant of the Masters outside of Laguna Beach. As
a matter of fact, my desire to protect the pageant from just such a
contract was a major factor in my decision to run for the board.
After festival members elected me last fall, I introduced a motion as
chair of the by-laws committee to put an amendment prohibiting
licensing or franchising of the pageant to a vote of the membership,
and as president strongly supported holding a special election for
that purpose. That amendment was subsequently approved by over 94% of
members who voted.
