Laguna Beach voters are deciding Measure R,…
Laguna Beach voters are deciding Measure R, which would trigger public votes on some hotel projects
By Erika I. Ritchie | eritchie@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: October 24, 2022 at 9:07 a.m. | UPDATED: October 24, 2022 at 9:07 a.m.
Voters in Laguna Beach are deciding in this election whether the city needs a law to specifically regulate hotel developments and remodels along the town's two major corridors.
If Measure R wins voter approval in November, it would still require certification by the California Coastal Commission. The City Council would then amend its municipal code to create an overlay district that covers all the related properties in the city within 1,000 feet of Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road.
The district would cover developments of new hotels or renovations of existing properties and require those plans to conform with specific restrictions related to density, parking and open space. Any new hotel or major renovation not complying with those restrictions would trigger a vote on the proposal by the public.
"Measure R simply provides Laguna Beach voters with a say on hotel projects because hotels should serve the community, not just tourists," said Maria Hernandez, spokeswoman for UNITE HERE Local 11, a hospitality union supporting the measure.
The overlay district would set restrictions such as:
Density: A hotel project's density is limited to one guest room or suite per 800 square feet of land.
Parking: A hotel must have 1.5 parking spaces for each room, plus one space for every 15 rooms and two spaces for residences.
Open space: 35% of the hotel's nonresidential gross floor area must be accessible to the public. This excludes parking and driveways, which can be used for landscaping and pedestrian use.
A hotel remodel is defined as a change of 15% to the hotel's existing structure or an addition equal to 15% of its building footprint.
Exceptions would be made for work on an existing building or structure that was damaged by a natural disaster.
Projects already approved by the city would also be exempt from the new ordinance.
The proposed ordinance says a variance approval would also be required for every minor hotel development project not conforming to the overlay district's development standards.
Project triggering public votes will go either at the next regularly scheduled election or for a special election, the project's developer would have to pay to cover the costs, which could range between $130,000 to $150,000. A majority of Laguna Beach voters would be needed for a project to be approved.
"The voter approval requirements increase the risk that a project will not be approved, require an investment of capital before placing the proposed project before the voters, and, by prolonging the process, may decrease the likelihood that these types of projects will be brought to the city," Phil Kohn, the city's attorney, wrote in his independent analysis of Measure R.
Those who support the measure say it will help protect Laguna Beach's unique character and charm; and they say there has been an effort in past years for "overzealous" developers to push developments that don't fit the small-town feel of Laguna Beach.
"Recently, some hotel developers have tried to build projects that are out-of-scale and don't provide enough parking," supports say in the ballot argument. "Many projects won't need a vote. Hotels that follow existing law and meet Measure R's standards for open space, density, and parking won't have to do anything new."
Having a public vote on hotel projects could stop projects that could threaten the town's look, they argue.
Those fighting Measure R say that the very character of Laguna Beach is threatened if the measure were to pass. Opponents argue the proposed overlay zone is "totally unnecessary" because Laguna Beach, a town with one of the strictest building standards when it comes to mass, scale and height limitations, already has laws preventing over development.
"Measure R limits the ability of our hotels to simply maintain their facilities," said Mark Christy, a partner at The Ranch Laguna Beach. "This impacts any potential renovation, even landscaping. I don't think this has any traction in Laguna because it's not authentic or an organic need."
Those opposing the measure also say it threatens hotel tax revenue, which funds about $17.3 million, or 14%, of the city's annual budget.
"Measure R will certainly discourage or prevent many hotels from maintaining first-class properties," said Joanna Bear, general manager of Surf & Sand, adding that the City Council has opposed the initiative as well. "Hotels that fall into disrepair will produce less tax revenue for the city, money needed for essential city services. Property values may very well decline. Most importantly, our hardworking employees could lose their jobs."
The election is Nov. 8, with mail ballots already sent out and in-person voting beginning Oct. 29. Ballots can be returned anytime by election day on Nov. 8. There are also numerous official ballot drop boxes around town.
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Erika I. Ritchie | Reporter
Erika Ritchie is an award-winning staff writer for the Orange County Register and 10 other Southern California News Group newspapers. She covers military and national defense from West Coast bases to the Pentagon. She's reported from Navy ships, Osprey aircraft and training ranges throughout Southern California, explaining national and international warfare tactics and military equipment. Erika has a comprehensive understanding of issues affecting South Orange County communities, including coastal access and the environment, the plight of marine mammal entanglements, water quality, development, local harbors and quality of life in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente. While adept at reporting hard news, she's known for telling human stories of conflict, struggle and joy. She's a three-time award winner from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for telling stories of Marines in local communities. The Gerald R. Ford Foundation has awarded her coverage of National Defense. She's won many first-place awards from the Los Angeles and Orange County press clubs. Away from her pen, Erika runs, skis and enjoys all things ocean and outdoors. She grew up bilingual in German and conversational in French.
eritchie@scng.com
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