Council OKs Process to Clear Fire Debris

With reminders of the 1993 firestorm still littering some neighborhoods, the Laguna Beach City Council has approved a process that could result in virtually all debris being cleared from fire-scarred lots over the next year.

While most fire victims have moved to rebuild their homes, the owners of 53 of the 286 houses destroyed within the city limits have not applied to rebuild, Community Development Director Kyle Butterwick said. An additional 36 properties are still vacant because the land owners stalled somewhere in the rebuilding process or new owners bought the property and have not yet started to rebuild, he said.

The remaining debris on these properties, including concrete foundations, slabs and retaining walls, are both unsightly and potentially dangerous, Butterwick said. Many neighbors have complained.

“Unfortunately, it’s sort of a harsh reminder of the fire disaster,” Butterwick said. “Ultimately, we’d like to see these neighborhoods completely restored.”

Butterwick recommended the city prepare an inventory of the damaged lots over the next four months to determine their condition, and then notify property owners they would have six months to clear their land.

Council members voted 4 to 1 this week to begin surveying the lots but said they want city staff members to report back to them before issuing an ultimatum to the property owners. Councilman Wayne L. Peterson voted against the measure.

The action is the second phase in the city’s efforts to clear away the remnants of the fire. In 1995, property owners were required to remove some of the more obvious hazards on the lots, such as chimneys and walls.