| 20260127 |
Orange County |
Laguna Beach |
City Council |
Public Hearing |
A. 225 VIEJO STREET: PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF
DESIGN REVIEW 25-1490 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-1516, FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A DETACHED STRUCTURE WITH TWO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND
ELEVATED DECKS IN THE R-2 (RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY) ZONE, AND CATEGORICAL
EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION
15303 (CLASS 3)
Recommendations:
1. Conduct a public hearing, including receiving a staff report and taking public testimony and all
evidence relating to the consideration of Design Review 25-1490 and Coastal Development Permit 25-
1516 for a detached structure with two accessory dwelling units and elevated decks and the California
Environmental Quality Act exemption under Section 15303 of the California Environmental Quality
Act Guidelines; and
2. Adopt a Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UPHOLDING THE DECISION OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD TO
APPROVE DESIGN REVIEW 25-1490 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-1516 FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DETACHED STRUCTURE WITH TWO ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS AND ELEVATED DECKS AT 225 VIEJO STREET, AND FINDING THE ACTION EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15303,” upholding the Design Review Board’s conditional approval of
Design Review 25-1490 and Coastal Development Permit 25-1516 and finding the Project exempt from
CEQA.
B. 31731 SEACOVE DRIVE: APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 24-
1151 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-1152 FOR ADDITIONS AND REMODEL OF AN
EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING, NEW TWO-CAR GARAGE, ELEVATED DECK ADDITIONS,
GRADING, LANDSCAPING, NEW POOL AND SPA, AND A NEW ATTACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT, AND VARIANCE 24-1153 FOR ADDITIONS INTO THE FRONT YARD, REAR YARD,
AND ADDITIONAL BUILDING SETBACKS, AND A NEW POOL IN THE FRONT YARD SETBACK IN
THE R-1, RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE, AND CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 (CLASS 1)
Recommendations:
1. Continue to conduct the public hearing that was opened at the September 23, 2025 City Council
meeting, including receiving an updated staff report and taking public testimony and all evidence
relating to the consideration of Design Review 24-1151, Coastal Development Permit 24-1152, and
Variance 24-1153, and the California Environmental Quality Act exemption under Section 15301 of the
state CEQA Guidelines; and
2. Adopt a Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE APPEAL AND SUSTAINING THE DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD’S APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 24-1151 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
24-1152 FOR THE ADDITION AND REMODEL OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING, A NEW
TWO-CAR GARAGE, ELEVATED DECK ADDITIONS, GRADING, LANDSCAPING, NEW POOL
AND SPA, AND AN ATTACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, AND VARIANCE 24-1153 FOR
ADDITIONS INTO THE FRONT YARD, REAR YARD, AND ADDITIONAL BUILDING
SETBACKS, AND A NEW POOL IN THE FRONT YARD SETBACK AT 31731 SEACOVE DRIVE
LOCATED IN THE R-1, RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY ZONE, AND CATEGORICAL
EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES
SECTION 15301,” upholding the Design Review Board’s conditional approval of Design Review 24-
1151, Coastal Development Permit 24-1152, and Variance 24-1153 and finding the project exempt from
the California Environmental Quality Act.
C. 30801 DRIFTWOOD DRIVE: APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD’S APPROVAL OF DESIGN
REVIEW 25-1883, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-1884, AND REVOCABLE
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 25-1885 FOR DEMOLITION OF THE EXISITING STRUCTURE AND
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH A TWO-CAR GARAGE AND
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE R-1 (RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE), AND FINDING THE
PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)
Recommendations:
1. Open the public hearing, take public testimony, and continue the public hearing to the February 24,
2026 City Council meeting; and
2. Find the action is not a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under
Public Resources Code Section 21065. |
January 27, 2026
Orange County
Laguna Beach
City Council
Public Hearing
#1
|
| 20260127 |
Orange County |
Laguna Beach |
City Council |
Item |
16. 1796 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 26-0066 FOR A HISTORIC
PRESERVATION INCENTIVE FOR A 75% REDUCTION IN THE REQUIRED OFF-STREET PARKING
SPACES FOR THE SEAHORSE LOUNGE, PEARL STREET COFFEE SHOP, AND PEARL STREET
GENERAL STORE IN THE C-1 (LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICT) ZONE, AND CATEGORICAL
EXEMPTION UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15301 (CLASS 1) AND 15331 (CLASS
31)
Recommendations:
1. Conduct a Public Hearing, including receiving a staff report and taking public testimony and all
evidence relating to the consideration of Conditional Use Permit 26-0066 and the categorical
exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Sections 15301 and 15331; and
2. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 26-0066
INVOLVING A HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCENTIVE FOR A 75% REDUCTION IN THE
REQUIRED OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES FOR THE SEAHORSE LOUNGE, PEARL STREET
COFFEE SHOP, AND PEARL STREET GENERAL STORE AT 1796 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY
IN THE C-1 (LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICT) ZONE, AND FINDING THE PROJECT
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 (CLASS 1) AND 15331 (CLASS
31)”. |
January 27, 2026
Orange County
Laguna Beach
City Council
Item
#16
|
| 20260127 |
Orange County |
Laguna Beach |
City Council |
Item |
15. ARTIST LIVE WORK UNITS; AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE ASSIGNMENT OF PURCHASE AND
SALE AGREEMENTS AND LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE LAGUNA BEACH COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST FOR 2307 AND 2535 LAGUNA CANYON ROAD
Recommendations:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Assignment Agreement assigning the City’s Purchase and
Sale Agreements for 2307 and 2535 Laguna Canyon Road to the Laguna Beach Community Land
Trust;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Loan Agreement in the principal amount of eight million
dollars with the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust, secured by deeds of trust on both properties, on
substantially the terms presented;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all related escrow, security, and implementing documents
necessary to consummate the transaction;
4. Approve a one-time grant to the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust in an amount not to exceed
seventy five thousand dollars to cover closing costs associated with the acquisition of 2307 and 2535
Laguna Canyon Road;
5. Appropriate funds in an amount not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars from the Housing Fund for
the purpose of providing the grant; and
6. Find that the recommended action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act
pursuant to Section 15378 because the actions will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable
indirect physical change in the environment.
J. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NON APPEALS. This section is for matters (other than appeals) that are structured as Public Hearings.
Public hearings are different from regular business items in that there is a specific time period where a formal hearing is opened
by the presiding officer, public comment is accepted from any member of the public, and the hearing is closed by the presiding
officer. Generally each public speaker has one opportunity to speak. The City Council conducts all Public Hearings in
accordance with the provisions of applicable Laguna Beach procedure and State law. The presiding officer shall have discretion
to establish the time allocated for public comment. |
January 27, 2026
Orange County
Laguna Beach
City Council
Item
#15
|