LAGUNA BEACH : Realtors Go After Design Review Board

After concluding from a recent survey that too many residents feel their private property rights have been violated by the city’s design review process, the Laguna Board of Realtors on Friday called for the curtailment of the Design Review Board’s power and the replacement of its current members.

In questionnaires mailed to 434 residents in July, property owners were asked to respond to a list of questions, such as whether the review process was fair or intimidating and whether it caused applicants to pay “increased costs beyond my expectations.”

More than 140 property owners responded, most with negative comments about the City Council-appointed Design Review Board, according to results released by the Laguna Board of Realtors Friday. For example, 66% said board members are unqualified, 73% said the process was unfair and 80% said board members “impose their personal opinions” on projects.

“There was only one question to which the respondents were not at least 60% negative,” said John Williams, president of the realtor board. “That tells me there is something out of whack with the entire process.”

The study results support previous complaints of applicants and architects who say the review board’s decisions are arbitrary and cause the cost of a new home or remodel to skyrocket. Some City Council candidates have already called for the review process to be eliminated for single-family homes built to city code, or to be done away with all together.

A Newport Beach architect who has designed a home to be built inside a large rock in South Laguna said his client has spent $160,000 more than expected because of the design review process.

“I’ve known people who were beat up so badly they decided not to build,” architect Brion Jeannette said. “Twenty-five thousand to $50,000 is automatically tacked on just by going through the process of design review.”

The realtors will ask the City Council Tuesday to appoint a committee to conduct an “in-depth study” of the review board and to make significant changes in the way the board operates. Specifically, they want the council to:

* Remove all current board members.

* Immediately suspend design review for single-family homes unless a variance is required.

* Require that future board members be qualified and experienced.

* Limit board members’ terms to two years.

* Allow the council to overturn board decisions with a simple majority vote.

* Eliminate or clearly define “vague concepts such as view and mass” so they will not be subject to arbitrary interpretation.

But Johanna Felder, president of Village Laguna, which in August released a report strongly supporting the Design Review Board, said most residents support the board’s efforts such as preservation of scenic views.

“That’s what Laguna is all about, is view,” she said. “View is subjective and there’s no way you can put a clear definition on view.”