HISTORY
On January 13, 2026, Village Laguna opened an exciting chapter in its 55-year history, becoming a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation accepting tax-deductible donations. This new status reflects our focus on bringing the community together to preserve and celebrate Laguna Beach’s historic and natural resources.
2026
Neighborhood Congregational Church
Led efforts, with other community leaders, to get the Neighborhood Congregational Church project scaled back from the originally approved 71-unit housing complex with a large church building to a lovely project that will include 29 affordable housing units and preserve the Montessori school and historic buildings.
2025
Every year, the first Sunday after Mother’s Day
Charm House Tour
In a major milestone for Village Laguna and Laguna Beach, organized the 50th edition of the annual Charm House Tour, which brings together our community and lovers of Laguna Beach from far and wide to celebrate our town’s most iconic homes.
2017
Historic American Landscape
Worked with other community groups to secure “Historic American Landscape” designation for the entire city of Laguna Beach from the National Park Service. This unprecedented feat was the subject of the 2025 book Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt: Celebrating a Treasured Historic American Landscape.
2016-2020
Village Entrance
Supported the winning design for the Village Entrance completed in 2020, helping to quash the City Council’s plan to build a massive parking structure that would have greatly indebted the city and changed the character of downtown forever. The entrance preserves surface parking while also including landscaping and a pedestrian-friendly pathway. Plus, it looks like Laguna, as it should.
2012
Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve and State Marine Conservation Area
As part of the Bluebelt coalition, actively supported the establishment of the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve and State Marine Conservation Area protecting all living marine, geological and cultural resources in the area, spanning from Abalone Point to Treasure Island.
2009
May
Aliso Creek “SUPER PROJECT”
Joined forces with local conservation groups and clubs to educate the community about the negative impacts of the Aliso Creek “SUPER PROJECT” proposed by the County of Orange, including by organizing a bus tour in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to highlight the project’s negative impacts.
2001
Crystal Cove
Led local efforts, spearheaded by Village Laguna member Jeannette Merrilees, to halt the planned development of a luxury resort at Crystal Cove, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the last remnant of the 1920s-era beach life in California. To this day, people can enjoy the use of the historic cottages thanks to this community effort.
1996
Montage Resort at Treasure Island
Successfully lobbied, with the South Laguna Civic Association, for the new Montage Resort at Treasure Island to include better view corridors and more open space.
1993
International Airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
Worked successfully with other local groups to stop the construction of an international airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station that would have subjected Laguna Beach to nonstop aircraft noise and pollution.
1989
Design/Photography: ©1989 Charles Michael Murray
Save Laguna Canyon Walk
Co-sponsored, with other key community groups, the Save Laguna Canyon Walk and helped gather signatures for the bond measure that allowed the city to buy much of the canyon for preservation as open space. (Documentary)
1977
Led the Opposition to Stop…
Led the opposition to stop the Irvine Company from running a road through Boat Canyon to the Coast, saved the star pine on North Coast Highway, and halted a 721-unit development project above Morningside Drive.
1973
Launched the first edition of the Charm House Tour
Launched the first edition of the Charm House Tour, an annual event showcasing some of the most distinctive homes that define our city’s village character and remind us of the importance of celebrating our rich history.
1971
Initiative to Cap Building Heights at 36 Feet
In 1971, the City of Laguna Beach was poised to raise the height limit along the beachfront so new high-rise hotels could be built. Seeing the potential for the city’s iconic coastline to be ruined, a group of citizens launched an initiative to cap building heights at 36 feet. After countless hours gathering signatures and educating the community, they easily qualified the initiative for the ballot. It passed with a whopping 75% of the vote. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Initiative organizers knew protecting Laguna Beach from LA-style overdevelopment would require continued vigilance. They dissolved their committee and immediately formed Village Laguna. Their goal was to have a large group of informed citizens ready to swing into action whenever actions by the city, county or state (or developers) threatened the character of Laguna Beach or its natural and historic resources.
In subsequent years, Village Laguna played a central role in the major initiatives that have shaped Laguna Beach. Below are just a few examples, starting with the most recent.
