Laguna Residents First Land General Ballot Slot On Initiative

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — An initiative that would give Laguna Beach residents the right to approve or deny major commercial projects in the city earned a slot on the General Election ballot this voting season, Laguna Residents First announced in a news release Tuesday.

This news comes after the Orange County Registrar of Voters certified the petition "An Ordinance Creating an Overlay Zoning District and Requiring Voter Approval of Major Development Projects," which was submitted by local Organization Laguna Residents First in January. The initiative received 2,000 signatures when it was submitted, and will be discussed during the Feb. 15 regular Laguna Beach City Council meeting.

The ballot initiative, if passed, would apply to developments that practice the following:

• Developments that combine large building lots.
• Developments that provide less on-site parking than is mandated.
• Developments that exceed current height limits, or are larger than 22,000 square-feet.

The initiative applies to major proposed developments that are within 750 feet of Coast Highway or Laguna Canyon Road, among other factors. Other Orange County cities such as Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Dana Point have previously passed similar initiatives, a Laguna Residents First news release reported.

According to the release, no public money would be involved in the initiative. Laguna Beach residents can find a copy of the ballot measure on Laguna Residents First's website.