Briefly In The News

Artist live-work moratorium extended

The City Council on Tuesday extended the moratorium on new applications for artist live-work projects in Laguna Beach.

Planning commissioners have until Jan. 3, 2013, to complete revisions to the artist live-work ordinance. Completion is not expected to take that long.

“It probably will just take another three months,” said Community Development Director John Montgomery.

A commission subcommittee has been working with stakeholders since commissioners announced they were considering an amendment to prohibit the units in the M-1A zone in Laguna Canyon, which piqued the attention of artists, who previously had indicated little interest.

Three major workshops and four subcommittee meetings have been held with the stakeholders since Sept. 14, but more time is needed, Montgomery said.

“I am delighted to see how many people have taken an interest in this,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson said.

Proposed amendments to the ordinance will provide incentives to develop the units and deal with issues that prompted the original moratorium in January 2011.

This extension is the final one allowed by law.

—Barbara Diamond

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Restaurant collecting food, money for drive

Starfish and Second Harvest Food Bank have partnered up for a food drive this holiday season.

The restaurant will collect food and monetary gifts through this weekend, with all donations going to the food bank, according to a news release.

Anyone who donates will be entered into a raffle drawing, with prizes including bottles of wine and gift cards.

For more information on Starfish, call (949) 715-9200 or visit https://www.starfishlaguna.com.

—Kelly Parker

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Vote for favorite holiday windows

The holiday shopping season is moving into full swing, and the Coastline Pilot is holding its third annual Holiday Window Contest for businesses in the city of Laguna Beach.

Readers are asked to nominate and vote by email for their favorite holiday-decorated Laguna Beach business window by midnight Dec. 18. Mail-in votes must be postmarked by Dec. 16.

Voters are encouraged to comment about what makes the window decoration special.

The winning business will be featured in the Dec. 23 issue, and will receive a gift card from the Coastline Pilot. Other top vote-getters will also be announced.

Voters may vote for as many different windows as they wish, but may only vote once per window.

The 2009 winner was Strands & Stitches. Thee Foxes’ Trot came in first in 2010.

Votes should be emailed to coastlinepilot@latimes.com with “Holiday window contest” in the subject line. Votes may be mailed to the Coastline Pilot, Holiday Window Contest, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652.

—Cindy Frazier