Mailbag: Lots on the horizon for Transition Laguna

Transition Laguna is doing amazing things.

The edible garden installs have been a catalyst in community building.

On April 12, Transition is producing a solar power roundtable with three companies on the leading edge of new technologies that can save homeowners money and reduce our reliance on the grid. It's at 7 p.m. at Bridge Hall of Neighborhood Congregational Church, and it's free.

Then on April 21, Transition and SEEDS are producing Laguna's inaugural Earth Day celebration in conjunction with Nancy Caruso's Kelp Fest. The city has agreed to close lower Park Avenue (at the nexus of Coast Highway and Forest Avenue) for this all day event that includes an Eco-Village, Eco-Lounge and Eco-Expo.

There will be demos on solar cooking, edible gardens, urban composting, water reuse, permaculture, and free guided bike tours of Transition garden installs, plus speakers and music throughout the day.

It's directly across from Kelp Fest and builds on the momentum Caruso has built to create a day of environmental awareness and education. More efforts are in the works, including bike rack installs all over town, more recycle bins in public places, and more movies and presentations. It's wonderful to live among such a committed group of volunteers who love our city so much that they want to make it even better.

Billy Fried

Laguna Beach

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Laguna faces dilemma with updating documents

The Laguna Beach Land Use Element is one of seven elements in a General Plan specified by California statute.

In 2008, California's legislature passed a law requiring that, after Jan. 1, 2011, any substantive revision of a Circulation Element of a General Plan — the transportation system of a city — must plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads and highways for safe and convenient travel.

Known as the California Statute for Complete Streets, the code says the General Plan shall consist of text setting forth objectives, principles, standards and planning proposals to build streets usable by "bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors."