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Laguna Beach mayor says response to Forest Avenue promenade has been 'mostly positive'
Summary
Mayor Alex Runagi described broad resident support for the Forest Avenue promenade while acknowledging opposition from some business owners and residents who prefer cars on the street.
Mayor Alex Runagi said feedback on the Forest Avenue promenade has been “mostly positive,” though some business owners and residents have voiced opposition.
Runagi, speaking in a recorded conversation with host Tom Johnson, said he had received emails opposing the promenade but that “overall, there has been a lot of very, positive feedback from residents in the community.” He added that some people find the idea of bringing cars back to the street “almost, like, unfathomable.”
Runagi said the criticisms he’s heard fall into two main viewpoints: business owners concerned that losing curbside parking on Forest Avenue will hurt customer access, and residents who view cars as integral to the character of the avenue. “There are a few business owners, who who have the viewpoint that because people can't pull up and park on Forest and go into the business, that that's hurting their business,” Runagi said. He also said other business owners report the promenade has helped their operations.
The mayor framed the promenade as part of a longer-term vision for a more walkable community, invoking James Dilley, a local bookseller and founder of the Greenbelt, as an example of earlier advocacy for walkable public space. “He was all about a walkable community and in many respects, this is the implementation of that vision,” Runagi said.
Tom Johnson, the program host, described visiting the promenade area and nearby Main Beach, saying he found the promenade “so inviting” and noted families and visitors gathering there.
The mayor did not describe any formal actions, votes, or specific next steps for the promenade in this conversation. He said residents and business owners hold differing views and that the city is moving forward with the project’s current direction.
Runagi framed the debate as part of the council’s broader deliberative process, saying disagreements among council members contribute to better decision-making but did not specify any council motions or timelines on the promenade.
