Canyon Saved : For Road-Widening Foes, It Was a Long Day’s Journey Into Light

A foggy mist hovered over Laguna Beach as 50 sleepy-eyed Lagunans rolled up to City Hall at 7 a.m. Wednesday to climb aboard a bus that would take them to their next battle.

Several were seasoned veterans, having spent years waging the fight to save Laguna Canyon.

Others, like Yvonne Rauland, were newcomers, willing to sacrifice their entire day to show the state that people in Laguna Beach really do care about the winding, scenic road that connects the quirky art colony to inland urbanization.

The driver of the chartered “Fun Bus” perused a map and reassured passengers that he knew where he was going.

Wednesday’s trip would take the participants to a boat yard building in Marina del Rey where the California Coastal Commission would listen to their concerns and decide the fate of state Department of Transportation’s second plan to widen the road.

The Lagunans were concerned not only because they feared Caltrans’ plan would increase traffic into their seaside community, but that it would cut a damaging swath into a scenic resource.

They were pessimistic about the outcome--estimating their chances of scuttling the plan at no better than 10%. The best they hoped for was that at least the commission would hear them out.

They would do much better than that.

“I spent my honeymoon in Laguna, so it means a lot to me,” Rauland said as the bus grumbled to a start. “My mother used to come down from Tustin when it (Laguna Canyon Road) was a dirt road.”

Today, it is a two-lane thoroughfare and the site of some 30 fatal accidents in the last decade. Rauland’s cousin was killed on the canyon road in an alcohol-related crash.

“That was my own flesh and blood and I still believe the (road) is safe,” Rauland said.

As the bus lumbered along the winding Laguna Canyon Road, travelers discussed their strategies for convincing the Coastal Commission that the two-lane highway should remain just that--two lanes.

A cheer arose from the groggy bunch when the bus passed the “Save the Canyon” sign just north of El Toro Road, and several passengers grumbled about the traffic heading out to the San Diego Freeway to join the morning commute toward Los Angeles.

“You can’t plan to be in a hurry when you travel this road,” Rauland remarked.

“OK, here we are, stuck in traffic,” one man announced as the bus driver waited his turn to maneuver into the northbound freeway lanes.

As they approached Long Beach at a steady rush-hour speed of 30 m.p.h., resident Richard Harris tossed out balloons for bus riders to inflate. The now-familiar “Save the Canyon” logo expanded around the red, green and brown surfaces of the balloons.

Once in Marina del Rey, the contingent picked up its home-made signs from underneath the bus and boldly marched into the meeting room. Old and young Lagunans alike stood in the back of the room, hoisting placards that declared in broad felt-tip pen: “Save the canyon, the last pristine canyon to the sea,” and “1988, the Year of Canyongate.”

The residents applauded and “Here-here’d” several times as their colleagues pleaded with the Coastal Commission not to alter the road.

The other side also had its say.

Keith E. McKean, Caltrans district director for Orange County, told the commission that the proposal was designed to accommodate motorists who insist on driving above the posted speed limit.

“We’re trying to provide a forgiving environment for the driver,” McKean said, noting that many of the accidents on the road are caused by people who cross over into oncoming traffic, often at excessive speeds or while intoxicated.

The Caltrans proposal called for widening the highway from El Toro Road south to Canyon Acres Drive, and for realigning a curve, known as Big Bend, which would require grading a large portion of the coastal canyon.

And some Laguna Beach residents who spoke before the commission were in favor of the project.

“That canyon is no joy to drive in,” resident Alex Evans told the commission. “I’m surprised we all got here this morning.” He said the canyon road already was ruined by the heavy traffic pouring in and out of the city, especially during the summer tourist season.

“The canyon’s already been raped, “ Evans said. “The question is how many times is she going to be raped again.”

But most of the comments came from those opposed to the project.

“We’re asking you to save Laguna Canyon from the bulldozer’s blade,” Laguna Beach Mayor Dan Kenney implored the commission.

“You must think we’re crazy,” Councilman Neil Fitzpatrick told the commission. “We’re being offered $13 million and we’re saying we don’t want $13 million (for the project).”

After two hours of testimony, a lunch break and an hour of commission deliberation, the vote came.

The Lagunans were momentarily stunned. They they burst into applause.

The 11-member commission had voted 6 to 5 to reject the widening plan. Commission members said they were swayed by the Laguna Beach presence.

“The City of Laguna has come to a halt (today),” Commissioner Lily Cervantes told the audience. “When people like yourselves come to public meetings it really says something.”

But the most significant element came in comments from Caltrans’ McKean. After the vote, he all but threw in the towel on any future efforts by the state to widen the road.

Stan Oftelie, executive director of the Orange County Transportation Commission, said the money originally slated for the Laguna widening might be funneled to some other county highway project.

That would mean the end to an 18-year struggle by many Lagunans to keep the road as it is.

“I’m surprised we prevailed,” City Manager Kenneth C. Frank said after the meeting.

LAGUNA CANYON ROAD CHRONOLOGY

1970: Laguna Beach City Council makes its first request to widen Laguna Canyon Road from two to four lanes.

1976: The city council modifies its original request and asks that the road be retained as two lanes.

February, 1979: The council unanimously adopts a policy to support widening Laguna Canyon Road from two lanes to four lanes between Canyon Acres Drive and El Toro Road.

December, 1986: Caltrans files first widening proposal to California Coast Commission. The council unanimously reaffirms its position that Laguna Canyon Road should be widened but opposes Caltrans plan, stating that the road should be widened using the existing alignment at Big Bend.

December, 1986: The Coastal Commission on a 6-4 vote rejects Caltrans’ first plan, stating that it does not conform to environmental requirements. Key elements include grading 2.3 million cubic yards of earth to create a four-lane highway with a traversable median and a 50 m.p.h. speed limit.

October, 1987: Caltrans and city planners meet to devise a widening plan that appeals to both.

November, 1987: City staff recommends that the City Council conceptually approve Caltrans’ second widening proposal, which includes reducing grading to 530,000 cubic yards, building nontraversable center divider and reducing the speed limit to 45 m.p.h. City Council unanimously rejects the proposal and asks Caltrans and city staff to continue working together.

December, 1987: Caltrans submits second widening proposal to the Coastal Commission.

January, 1988: City Council unanimously votes to oppose widening of Laguna Canyon Road and states that it prefers that Caltrans implement safety measures on the existing road, including a nontraversable median, flashing caution lights and warning signs at Big Bend, and traffic signals at various points on the road.

February 24, 1988: The Coastal Commission, on a 6-to-5 vote, rejects Caltrans’ second widening proposal.