EDITORIAL:Citizen watchdogs are necessary

A citizen’s inquiry has again resulted in the California Coastal Commission stepping in to what many see as “local” affairs.

Devora Hertz brought the issue of the relocation of four of the historic Third Street cottages elsewhere to commission staff after noticing that the city was not intending to issue a Coastal Development Permit for the proposal.

Some might call this simply a delaying tactic by a critic of the senior center project, which will break ground in April on the site now occupied by the cottages.

City Manager Ken Frank has agreed to go along with the permit issuance by placing the matter on a future Planning Commission agenda and holding a hearing based on the requirements of the California Coastal Act. But he’s not happy about it.

The Coastal Act, which covers most of Laguna Beach, calls for special attention to overarching environmental and coastal resource issues, such as habitat, views and public access — all of which are very important to a beautiful and sensitive area such as Laguna.

There should be no problem with the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit by the city, and the area to which the cottages will be temporarily located is outside the “appeal” area for such a permit — meaning the state commission will have no further say on the proposal after the city permit is approved.

We think Hertz did the right thing in holding the city to account for the Coastal Act.

Hertz’ action is another in a series of community-initiated instances in which the Coastal Commission has stepped in when city officials bypassed the panel and its oversight — which doesn’t always walk hand-in-hand with local agencies or the wishes of developers.

Citizen action may be inconvenient for city officials, who understandably feel that they are closest to the situation and want to move projects — especially city projects — forward in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Citizens are already gearing up for hearings on the Village Entrance draft Environmental Impact Report, with a timely and very important seminar on the EIR process planned for Jan. 29 at City Council chambers.

Anyone who is concerned about the Village Entrance project or any other development issue in Laguna Beach should plan to attend this forum, which will provide expert instruction in how to read an EIR and how to comment upon it, and the importance of doing so.