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Laguna small‑business owner urges city to ease rules on sidewalk displays
Summary
A downtown shop owner told council that Laguna Beach prohibits small retailers from placing modest storefront items outside their door, and urged staff follow‑up on outdoor display permits and counter bureaucracy.
During public comment on non‑agenda items, a downtown retailer identified as Umut asked the Laguna Beach City Council on June 24 to ease restrictions that prevent small shops from displaying merchandise or temporary signage outside storefronts. The speaker, who said he has owned Heavenly Couture for ten years, described lengthy delays in obtaining outdoor‑display permits and said he had seen many small stores close in recent years.
Councilmember Alex (Jeremy in transcript) suggested staff follow up and provide a contact so the owner could resolve permit questions. Assistant City Manager and staff later offered to connect the shop owner with business‑licensing staff to explore options and permits that would allow modest, safe sidewalk displays consistent with city rules.
The comment was part of a broader conversation at the meeting about economic and tourism pressures in the downtown area and followed other public testimony about restaurant and small business concerns.
