LAGUNA BEACH : Fire Safety Stressed in Revised Codes

A proposal to change city building codes so new homes will be more fire resistant will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday.

The draft ordinance, crafted by a task force formed after the October fire, has been revised to assuage the fears of Canyon Acres residents who worried that their community would lose its rustic ambience as homes were rebuilt, building official John Gustafson said.

“The people in Canyon Acres were really emotional about keeping wood fencing and wood decking,” he said. “I think we’ve written this proposal now in such a way that you can do basically anything as long as you’re willing to pay the additional price for these fire-retardant treatments.”

The panel is proposing that wood shake and shingle roofs, previously banned in fire hazard areas, be permitted if they are properly treated.

However, Jay Grant, who lost four Canyon Acres houses and two studios in the blaze, said he objects to the restrictions because they would “dramatically increase” the cost of rebuilding.

“I feel I am being penalized for a fire I had nothing to do with,” Grant said Friday, adding that he and other property owners will protest the measure at Tuesday’s meeting.

If they are unable to afford the permitted materials, Grant said property owners would be forced to choose the less expensive option, altering the community’s appearance.

“We don’t want to rebuild little concrete boxes or stucco boxes,” he said.

The proposed changes were scrutinized by the Laguna Beach Planning Commission on Wednesday. While the commission made no changes, members also expressed concerns about whether the required materials would be too expensive or unnatural looking.

Commissioners were scheduled to meet today with members of the city’s Design Review Board to discuss the proposed changes.

Also as part of the proposal, the city would be divided into two fire-hazard zones, with the tightest restrictions targeting homes that abut the wild-land areas.

Grant also objected to that idea. He said it would affect his ability to get insurance if Canyon Acres is classified as a “high-risk” area.

The earlier proposal would have prohibited wood framing in the most hazardous zones, while the reworked version allows it, provided the builder follows strict guidelines regarding the types of materials that can be used, Gustafson said.

For example, the wood would have to meet minimum size requirements as well as being specially treated and tested.

“You could probably have almost anything you want if you’re willing to pay for that (fire-retardant) process,” Gustafson said. “It can be expensive.”

The changes are being proposed in the form of an urgency ordinance, which means they would become effective immediately. The new laws will apply to construction throughout the city, excluding structures west of Coast Highway.