Relief center put on hold

Planning Commissioners want a lot more information before they will consider approving a conditional use permit for a proposed site for the Laguna Beach Resource and Relief Center.

An emotional, but restrained hearing Wednesday was continued until November to give supporters time to better organize their application, conduct parking and traffic studies, produce a concept for the design of the center proposed for 2633 Laguna Canyon Road and try to find a way to appease residential neighbors.

“We got a list of conditions neighbors would like, and I’d like to see some conversations between the resource center people and the neighbors, conducted with open hearts,” Commissioner Anne Johnson said.

The Laguna Beach Resource and Relief Coalition propose to buy a 3,300 square foot building to operate as a nonprofit facility to provide disaster preparedness and recovery assistance for Laguna Beach residents; assistance to low-income families and the homeless and six short-term rental units to help pay for the center.

City staff recommended approval of the CUP

A city loan of $100,000 for the down payment on the property is contingent on the approval of a conditional use permit, for which certain legal justifications must be made, including the finding that the requested use is no more obnoxious than surrounding uses.

Nearby residential neighbors oppose the site, if not the use.

“The use is admirable — I just question the location,” said local architect Carl Iverson. “The entire neighborhood adjacent is residential.”

However, the neighborhood is zoned for light industry.

“I have to turn the argument that this is a residential neighborhood on its ear,” Commission Chairman Norm Grossman said. “Residences are specifically prohibited in the zone unless grandfathered in.”

“Grandfathering” applies to dwellings that existed before the current zoning.

In fact, Grossman said he couldn’t make the legal findings for the six transitional units proposed by the coalition for the center, unless they were artist live-work spaces, which is a permitted use in the zone.

Neighbors’ concerns included the lack of security proposed for the center, particularly at night.

“We want a full-time security person when anyone is there and disclosure of sexual predators,” Katie Maes said.

Lynn Stanton attempted to allay concerns.

“Somebody being down and out — and we are going to see a lot more of them due to the national economy — does not make them a pedophile, a rapist or a murderer,” Stanton said.

“This facility is right. The purpose is right. Is the impact on the neighborhood so detrimental that we should can the project?”

That would be Rhonda Ellis’s preference. Asked by Commissioner Linda Dietrich what aspect she would consider the most onerous for her children, Ellis replied,” Pretty much all of it.”

“I am worried about the safety of my children and their social and emotional development,” Ellis said.

“Parents of their friends have already told me they won’t let their children come to play or sleep over [if the center is approved].”

Ellis said her children’s independence would be hampered because she would not let them stay home alone or walk to the bus stop by themselves, due to her concern about the mental stability of people coming to the center.

“You are not giving your children the chance to learn that not everybody on Earth is like them,” said Bonnie Hano, whose husband, Arnold, is on the coalition board, “People get 5150’d [police code for a required mental evaluation] all over town. They drink all over town, and they have accidents all over town.”

Neighbors submitted a list of 16 conditions they want imposed, if the center is approved, which they did not encourage.

But the real roadblock for the commissioners was the preparation of the application for the conditional use permit.

“We know we are dealing with volunteers and they are doing this out of the goodness of the hearts, but we are being asked to approve a CUP and there are certain standards of review we must maintain,” Commissioner Rob Zur Schmiede said.

“I would like to see a better definition of the programs. Design review needs to be part of this application.”

Zur Schmiede said he tended to agree with center supporters who claimed that egress from the property is not a problem, but nonetheless wanted a closer look at parking.

Dietrich wants to know the qualifications for employees and their job description and she has severe concerns about the traffic impacts.

“I am a fairly cautious driver and I was scared to death pulling out of there,” Dietrich said. “I want more information on accidents in the area. “

Commissioner Bob Whalen said he understood the financial burden of providing 24-hour security, but felt something could be worked out. Neighborhood concerns must be addressed, he said.

Johnson explained that the commission is obliged to think about what would happen if the center closed.

“A CUP goes with the building,” Johnson said. “Who would we get? Another Spencer Recovery Center? People coming from the county and putting up a facility?

“We have to consider the good of the community, the good of neighbors, the good of the people being helped and the good of the resource center.”

A multiuse resource center was recommended by the Homeless Task Force, initiated by Councilman Kelly Boyd, who attended the commission hearing, but did not testify.

The task force was created to help reduce the number of homeless in Laguna. However some opponents fear that the expanded services will have the opposite effect.

Services proposed include emergency shelter; lockers; distribution of food and clothing; access to county services such as detoxification and mental health care; outreach and case management; relationship building and mentoring ;and transitional housing for people capable of living independently, free of alcohol and drugs use.

At the council hearing on the loan, Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman asked for assurances that the new facility would be for the benefit of Laguna Beach residents, unlike other shelters in Laguna, which provide county-wide services.

Coalition Chairman Ed Sauls affirmed that center would provide assistance to Laguna Beach residents who are victims of a local disaster. He did not stipulate that services to the homeless or low-income families would be restricted to locals.

The conditional use permit hearing is scheduled to be continued Nov. 12. It will not be re-noticed.