Laguna council to consider splitting Top of the World property
Crews have started the long-awaited upgrade to a rudimentary trail for pedestrians and cyclists near Laguna Beach’s Top of the World neighborhood, after the city got the blessing of the owners of two pieces of private property that the trail traverses.
And now one of the private-property owners is waiting for an answer to a request of his own.
Jerry Sebag wants to split his 24,624-square-foot vacant residential lot, at 28901 Top of the World Drive, into two parcels.
The Laguna Beach City Council on Tuesday will take up the matter.
Gene Gratz, an attorney representing Sebag, said the request to split the lot was not part of any deal with the city to secure an easement on the land to work on the trail. Sebag had accepted at the time of purchase years ago that the trail would be built, Gratz added.
“We were aware the trail would happen whether we bought [the land] or not,” Gratz said by phone Friday.
The Planning Commission unanimously agreed in October that the proposed subdivision conforms with the city’s general plan and recommended approval to the council.
Some residents have expressed concern about the potential loss of views and possible runoff to surrounding properties if houses were eventually built on Sebag’s property, according to minutes from the commission meeting.
The current informal trail, which runs along a ridge linking Top of the World and Arch Beach Heights neighborhoods, is plagued by deep crevices in several locations. It’s mainly used by schoolchildren and mountain bikers.
In January 2015, the council approved adding decomposed granite and asphalt in certain portions, with the condition that a 300-foot section of Top of the World Drive not be widened by the proposed 4 feet.
The city had wanted to widen the road to provide easier public access to the trail, but several residents opposed the idea, fearing that a larger road would invite more traffic, according to a Coastline Pilot story.
Planning commissioners in October said the city’s Design Review Board would consider concerns about building height and drainage related to any proposed development on the property.
Tuesday’s council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
