Laguna Beach Neighborhood Petitions to Underground Utilities

Bluebird Canyon residents seek to remove 60 poles and 7,200 feet of overhead power lines to reduce wildfire risk

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:18pm

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An atmospheric, out-of-focus photograph of a residential neighborhood, with power lines and utility poles visible through a hazy, rain-streaked lens, conveying a sense of the everyday beauty and underlying risks faced by the community.As Laguna Beach residents work to move utility lines underground, the Upper Bluebird Canyon neighborhood's petition highlights the community's ongoing efforts to mitigate wildfire risks and improve public safety.Laguna Beach Today

Residents in Laguna Beach's Upper Bluebird Canyon neighborhood have petitioned the city to begin the process of forming an underground utility assessment district. The proposed project would remove 58 utility poles and 7,238 linear feet of overhead power lines in the area, which includes 158 parcels. The city council has approved $310,000 in funding for preliminary design and engineering, with the goal of accelerating the timeline to address public safety concerns around wildfire evacuation routes.

Why it matters

Laguna Beach is one of the highest fire hazard severity zones in the city, and residents are pushing to underground utilities as a proactive measure to protect against the threat of wildfires. Downed power lines can block critical evacuation routes, putting both residents and first responders at risk. By moving utilities underground, the community aims to enhance safety and reduce wildfire risks.

The details

The Bluebird Canyon Drive assessment district would impact 158 parcels and require the acquisition of easements to construct underground utilities along private streets. If approved by property owners, the project would remove approximately 60 utility poles and 7,200 linear feet of overhead power lines. City officials have lowered the threshold for required signatures from 60% to 50% of property owners within the proposed district to encourage more residents to participate.

  • On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved $310,000 in funding for preliminary design and engineering.
  • The project is estimated to take 4-6 years to complete, including an 18-month utility design phase.
  • In July, the city revised its assessment district formation policy to lower the required signatures from 60% to 50% of property owners.

The players

Pierre Sawaya

Capital Program Manager for the City of Laguna Beach.

Susan Whitin

A resident of the Bluebird Canyon neighborhood who spoke at the City Council meeting in support of the project.

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What they’re saying

“Given that we're one of the three highest fire hazard severity zones in the city, the timeline raises serious concerns. In the case of a fire or an earthquake, down utility poles can block critical evacuation routes, compounding the risk to the residents and the responders. We respectfully but strongly urge the city to identify and pursue available methods to significantly shorten the time frame. Accelerating this process is a matter of public safety and risk reduction, and we urge you to treat this with urgency.”

— Susan Whitin, Bluebird Canyon Resident

What’s next

Following the completion of preliminary design and engineering, property owners will be asked to vote on the proposed district, with votes being weighted by the amount of the assessment attached to each parcel. Assuming the district passes, the city would be reimbursed for its initial contribution via the assessments.

The takeaway

This project highlights the growing concerns among Laguna Beach residents about the risks posed by overhead utility lines, especially in high-fire-risk areas. By proactively moving utilities underground, the community aims to enhance public safety and protect critical evacuation routes, demonstrating the importance of community-driven initiatives to address local infrastructure challenges.