Mailbag: New view ordinance did its job

Re: “New view ordinance yields first claim,” Coastline Pilot, July 10.

Congrats to the View Restoration Committee for negotiating an agreement between two property owners who have fought for six years over a lost view.

I’m glad to see that the process outlined in the ordinance is working and that insensitive tree owners have found a strong enforcement committee to stand up for view claimants rights. Kudos to the committee: Doug Cortez, Ruben Flores, Ara Hovanesian, Katy Koster and Chris Toy.

Marianne Blume

Laguna Beach

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New ordinance doesn’t work right

The View Restoration Committee had its first case in seven months under its new policy adopted in June 2014 — which says something about the policy’s usefulness.

In order to complain about an overgrown hedge or tree, the complainant must provide proof of a “before” view, pay a $500 initial minimum fee, plus any additional actual cost, for a non-binding arbitrator, pay another $630 for a public hearing with the committee, get three bids from certified arborists, pay the entire trimming cost (unless the Committee apportions it), and be liable to replace the plant if it dies within two years — even though it was trimmed by a certified arborist.

So it costs the complainant about $1,500 — and there is almost no incentive at any step for the hedge/tree owner to cooperate.

The Hedge Claim Policy, which covers hedges within “set backs,” is no better — cheaper but more complicated.

City of Laguna, you can do better than this.

Louis Leo

Laguna Beach

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An apology to the driver I made stop at the crosswalk

I visited downtown Laguna Beach last weekend and had a great time. However, I wanted to extend my apology to the gentleman driving the large green Land Rover SUV, who lost five seconds of his life letting me utilize the crosswalk as a pedestrian at the corner of Glenneyre and Thalia streets.

He seemed to be so upset; both verbally by raising his voice in frustration and physically by throwing his arms out and hitting the steering wheel. At first I didn’t think much of it.

The car in the lane next to him stopped and had no issue yielding to me crossing the crosswalk, and everything looked safe. The Land Rover even stopped, then started to crawl up toward the crosswalk just as I was starting to walk.

However, I realize my fault. Even with the pedestrian-to-driver eye contact, along with the direction I was starting to walk, was a clear indication I intended to cross the street, I simply forgot that drivers of luxury vehicles own the road. That they do not have to follow driving laws, such as signaling, stopping, or yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks. Next time I’ll remember to stop and let the luxury driver go first.

Again Mr. Land Rover driver, I do apologize and hope you’ll forgive me. Next time, I’ll remember you’re exempt from all motor vehicle laws pertaining to pedestrian crossings.

Frank Lehnerz

San Diego