LAGUNA BEACH : Controversial Park Plans to Be Reviewed

The City Council will take another look today at controversial plans for an 8.5-acre park on the city’s highest hilltop.

The special session was requested by City Manager Kenneth C. Frank to expedite consideration of final plans for the proposed Alta Laguna Park, which has pitted open space preservationists against sports lovers in emotional debates.

As proposed, the park would have six tennis courts, a 58-space parking lot, picnic areas and the city’s only regulation-size baseball field. The park would be built at the north end of Alta Laguna Boulevard in the Top of the World neighborhood,

While athletic boosters say the facilities are needed, some residents have objected bitterly to having a park that large built in their neighborhood on previously undisturbed land.

The park was approved by the City Council in January and the Design Review Board last month. But on Wednesday, the Planning Commission threw what some opponents hope may be a monkey wrench into the works by voting 3 to 1 that the park is not in conformance with the city’s general plan. Planning Commission Chairman Norm Grossman said he believes that the land falls within the Laguna Greenbelt and therefore, according to the general plan, should be used only for “passive recreation,” such as hiking.

“That’s really the key issue in my mind,” he said. “I think the opponents brought up enough issues to show where the park does not appear to be in conformity.”

But Deputy City Manager Rob Clark said the City Council has already found the park in conformance with the general plan and is not likely to change that position.

Anticipating a last-minute appeal by park opponents and anxious to bring the park proposal before the state Coastal Commission as soon as possible, the city staff chose to file the appeal to the City Council, Clark said.

Park opponents, however, say they will not be rushed and have asked that the matter be continued. If necessary, opponents will file an appeal of their own Wednesday, which is the appeal period deadline, said Gary Schwager, vice president of Top of the World Neighborhood Assn.

A workshop on the park will begin at 5 p.m. today. The City Council meeting will follow at 6. The City Council’s regular meeting, which will include a discussion of the proposed city budget, will be held as usual at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.