Issues

Throughout the Vision Workshops, community members expressed a range of issues and challenges facing Laguna Beach.

Due to increasing regional growth and development, many residents are concerned with maintaining the small town atmosphere, scale and texture of Laguna Beach. People feel the City needs to address the increasingly larger houses being built on smaller lots throughout the City and the impact these houses are having on the community?s character. Increasing traffic and parking congestion in the Downtown area and along Laguna Canyon Road and the Coast Highway are also impacting the community in a negative manner.

As the cost of living in Laguna Beach continues to rise, community members feel the City needs to address the issue of affordable housing not only for artists and seniors, but also for school teachers and police officers who work in the City. People view maintaining community diversity as a challenge that needs to also be addressed.

Improving the quality of the environmental resources in and around Laguna Beach, including the creeks, beaches and the ocean, was cited as a serious issue as was the need to protect Laguna Beach against fire, floods and earthquakes.

With relation to the economy and the Downtown area, community members expressed increasing concerns about the lack of resident-serving businesses and increasing parking problems.

Some people suggested that internal community conflict is an issue that prohibits the community from developing innovative community plans and making positive progress.

Finally, some feel the community needs to better support the arts while others mentioned the need for specific services for seniors and youth.