[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6526587,"mediaKeyId","3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3","parentId",3785208,"title","Council upholds design review for new South Laguna Fire Station, adds conditions on materials, landscape and daylighting","audioSeconds",7563,"startMs",2462000,"endMs",10025000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3&start=2462&end=10025","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3/thumbnail_2462000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526587/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-upholds-design-review-for-new-South-Laguna-Fire-Station-adds-conditions-on-materials-landscape-and-daylighting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526587-890cc567cb05937037e8db652a9d91d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775229636&Signature=kvfuhhqZid5Z7xEBfbhiq9O9kFq6ekcx79d6SIi~uUyYOb~VQF5yVyUH~dWfc1PQVN5gz6R1cZ57KjgCmFeIJQLINxwHSWuhcQck51rXM~05JnKfNjM6TznlODD9fPCsufn79sSi6Fzo6bL55qnUhIH240MKVh-ER3uOB8gn6kW7gBVivZJofg-XD8eZjbokUhbox71a9U8yqGdPylOUSy7nB3W6Wlaf4dw0bP6WdEdhG~N-xj9b69OV44aFvR6zAMw7jpoGDhEcMFyd-EwrXXfElPsXAz80~m~LLBwCT-GbSloZElatPYZxXihzNMlIQdHPyPJV7DypbrulvXzDHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T16:44:57.757Z","article","Laguna Beach’s City Council on June 10 upheld the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of design review for the new Fire Station No. 4 at 31796 Coast Highway, while adding specific direction about final materials, landscaping and interior daylighting.

City Engineer Tom Perez described the project as an 8,367-square-foot replacement fire station sited on a parcel with access from Fifth Avenue for staff and apparatus. Perez said the design accommodates three full-time firefighters, two ambulance operators and future staffing growth, and that the apparatus bays would exit onto Coast Highway. The Planning Commission conditionally approved the design on May 21 with three principal conditions: reduce the building’s maximum height by at least one foot, shift portions of the building north to align with a proposed retaining wall and return to the commission with a final color-and-materials board and revised landscape plan.

Shweta Sharma, senior planner, summarized the CEQA analysis and noted staff concluded the project does not require additional environmental review: the new station essentially replaces an existing station located about 600 feet away, trip generation is below applicable thresholds for vehicle-miles-traveled analysis, and reconfigured ingress/egress reduces employee trips on Coast Highway. “The project does not conflict with CEQA guidelines regarding vehicle miles traveled,” she said.

Neighbors, planning commissioners and local architects provided detailed comments during the public hearing. Architect Morris Kandarian — who shared advice during the outreach phase — recommended design adjustments to reduce perceived massing and improve materials so the station better reflects local character. “I would commend the architect for listening to some of the changes… but I think it could go a little bit farther,” Kandarian told the council, urging textured materials and refined garage-door treatments to reduce the building’s visual weight.

Neighbor Gigi Force, whose home sits north of the proposed site, urged that the final design avoid creating a narrow ‘canyon’ between retaining walls and asked that the project team clarify where walls, walkways and landscape would be placed relative to adjacent property lines.

Council discussion focused on balancing the city’s urgency to replace seismically vulnerable public-safety facilities with neighborhood and design concerns. Councilmembers directed staff to finalize design documents that preserve required operational features — including nine-foot interior ceiling heights in living areas — and to pursue specified design refinements before construction. The council adopted the Planning Commission action with updated conditions: require a minimum one-foot reduction in building height as the commission requested (while maintaining functional ceiling heights), require a materials-and-color board and final landscape plan developed in consultation with the Planning Commission (including the working group), and add a discrete daylighting requirement — skylights with automatic night shades — to ensure common living spaces receive natural light.

Councilmembers also asked staff to make technical meetings with the architect and neighborhood (including Morris Kandarian) public or available by livestream to increase transparency. Staff said it will continue engineering and construction scheduling and return with a construction timeline and bid-ready documents; the council urged an accelerated schedule because the station replaces a facility staff judged vulnerable after seismic analysis.

The motion to uphold the Planning Commission’s conditional approval with the described modifications passed unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting for Public Hearings - June 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council sustained the Planning Commission’s conditional approval for the new Fire Station No. 4 at 31796 Coast Highway, required a minimum one-foot lowering of the building height, asked for Planning Commission consultation on materials and landscaping and directed staff to pursue interior daylighting (skylights) for living spaces.","taxTitle","Laguna Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",56774,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6526592,"Council upholds Planning Commission approval of temporary parklet at Auto Sushi",274,12082000,12356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3&start=12082&end=12356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3/thumbnail_12082000.jpg","/articles/6526592/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-upholds-Planning-Commission-approval-of-temporary-parklet-at-Auto-Sushi","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526592-62482604ee5dedf5f40c45688b03eb1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775229636&Signature=KNLz9nHq~PB6PZVCFnLdlfJnZmjzplpcnMU0WIbKLDZmEJuX8b0f1cz3VIAETI5WpCuVNHM7Rj8p3LCrDw0OJGzbeaN385oJOqdw5RxuuPZQRjcWU4t~Rzjc1XI9kjnReQo0dEDHfkjCOCTFJ1RPbsnTp5VTGzQliIVdN4~9~ZC5oYDk5Hq4FL~lpHj-wJSqeaCHE8cYF~dRDhmQPuXTPzPPsx42qVFJGWetPoao~2SutTp9AKmreoCDTWqiOF~55PeCk6jGIzGKC102PpTziwbuRk2UawmvjT~PInmn6M2GjH0WCQ3R3~iNbkLK6FhRz0axdZhEXqSqGSdYDomgZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laguna Beach City Council on June 10 upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of a temporary-use permit allowing a parklet in front of Auto Sushi.

The Planning Commission had approved the temporary parklet under the city’s pilot procedures; staff indicated the parklet is permitted on a temporary basis and may be removed when the pilot program sunsets. Planning Commissioner George Dubin told the council the applicant understood the permit could be time-limited; the council heard no public opposition during the hearing.

The applicant confirmed readiness to proceed with construction and staff indicated the building permit could be finalized and issued quickly so the parklet installation can proceed this season. Council voted to move the recommended action and the motion passed with unanimous support.

The council’s action preserves the Planning Commission’s temporary-use permit and allows the applicant to install the parklet subject to permit conditions and the city’s temporary-program rules. Staff said the permit includes a sunset condition aligned with the city’s parklet/temporary use ordinance.","Council affirmed the Planning Commission’s approval of a temporary-use permit for a parklet adjacent to Auto Sushi; staff noted the permit is temporary and the pilot program sunsets on Jan. 1, 2026.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6526597,"Laguna Beach council designates Lower Forest Avenue a slow street, denies appeals and clears way for promenade design review",939,1520000,2459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3&start=1520&end=2459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3/thumbnail_1520000.jpg","/articles/6526597/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-council-designates-Lower-Forest-Avenue-a-slow-street-denies-appeals-and-clears-way-for-promenade-design-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526597-90694600a04f26f7ffda97e6d392fb7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775229636&Signature=iSRxi4E5yyN8FMqADByUQmTZQoQmkr9rnqH6wLWNRK7WYPBzLF1-lUiS6HwID7IWEnUonvAPwTJoseTep2ZBwrWtneTrIZponsGSwfY--1w97IPXTpy43qoTTWILX2hUdwof1-zLMNJdvYmEEomFcC8UT1Hf1z29FpoXwNHH68-90ZhAAHl3Z2DbTAI1gdMNMizZtzkNn2yY8aQg0UPbopEY7up0gbsCDNbnxafbezqHquzeDqQKjRBrKYbOcUItQMg7ZXznV8rJarmDH-awHWGKJNgRznhJYhne4VPYzOVOOuWWoBhI7lXecWZ4HzrEivun0XRY2mhO-ruEPNXj2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laguna Beach City Council on June 10 adopted a resolution designating the lower portion of Forest Avenue as a slow street, denied multiple appeals of planning approvals for the Promenade on Forest project and found the project falls within the state pedestrian-facility exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

City Manager Louis Lacassella and project staff told the council the Promenade is a multi-component project that would create a permanent pedestrian plaza on Lower Forest Avenue with widened walkways, new planting, trench drains, brick pavers and space for outdoor dining, public art and performances. Assistant planner Jane (last name not specified in record) reviewed the city’s legal analysis and said the project meets the statutory CEQA exemption for pedestrian and bicycle facilities under Public Resources Code §21080.25(b)(1). “The project qualifies for the statutory exemption as a pedestrian facility within the public right of way,” Jane told the council during the staff presentation.

The project requires several entitlements: adoption of a Slow Streets resolution (based on the California Vehicle Code), a coastal development permit for closure of Lower Forest Avenue, and design review and coastal development permits for the street and streetscape improvements. Planning Commission approval and a director’s coastal permit previously issued those entitlements; opponents filed appeals arguing process, outreach and design concerns.

Staff summarized outreach that included focus groups, public workshops, council/commission briefings and mailed notices. The city’s traffic and parking consultants reported in 2022 that parking utilization in a 1,000-foot study area met the city’s target 85 percent benchmark during survey periods; staff noted subsequent measures — after-hours library parking, microtransit — that reduced on-street demand further. The city-engineered hydrology report prepared by Somas found the proposed drainage pattern would not markedly change existing flow patterns, that trench drains on the promenade would connect to the existing 24-inch outfall to Laguna Channel, and that permeable surfaces would improve low-flow water quality treatment.

The public comment period drew more than 100 speakers and more than 800 petition signatures on opposing and supporting sides. Supporters — including Erin Slattery, CEO of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, and arts and school organizations — said the promenade has produced increased foot traffic, programming and family-friendly gathering space. Slattery told the council, “The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce supports the Promenade on Forest project… This outdoor space will provide additional chances for residents to visit local restaurants and enjoy outdoor meals.”

Opponents clustered around Village Laguna and business owners who said loss of about 48 on-street parking spaces and months of construction would harm retail merchants and the historic “Main Street” character. Merrill Anderson, president of Village Laguna, urged the council to postpone or reconsider the permanent closure and to explore hybrid options. “We urge you not to go forward with the project as proposed and listen to the hundreds of community members who do not want to lose their beloved Forest Avenue,” Anderson said.

After extended deliberation, the council adopted the Slow Streets resolution with one added timing modification: the resolution designates Lower Forest Avenue a slow street but authorizes closure to vehicular traffic upon award of a construction contract for the promenade improvements, giving council oversight on proceeding to permanent closure once bids and final costs are known. The council also denied the appeals and sustained the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of the design review and coastal development permits, and found the project actions fall within the statutory CEQA exemption noted above.

Councilmembers said they are sensitive to small-business impacts and directed staff to continue working on mitigation measures for merchants during construction, to refine the final design and landscape plans in public with the Planning Commission, and to return with final construction documents and budgeted project costs before awarding a construction contract.

The actions recorded in the minutes were: adoption of the Slow Streets resolution (with the timing clause tying closure to contract award), denial of appeals and sustainment of the planning commission’s approvals, and adoption of the CEQA exemption finding. The council vote on the planning-approval motion was recorded as 5-0. Staff said further steps will include final design, material and landscape confirmation with the Planning Commission working group and a public materials/color review before construction bidding.","After hours of public testimony, council adopted a slow-streets resolution for Lower Forest Avenue, sustained the planning commission’s design review approval, and found the project exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code §21080.25(b)(1). Council added a timing condition tying full street closure to award of a construction contract.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6526602,"Laguna Beach council sustains design board approval for Astor Street property",104,768000,872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3&start=768&end=872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785208-088f341f5867f3436fdc558281f313a3/thumbnail_768000.jpg","/articles/6526602/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-council-sustains-design-board-approval-for-Astor-Street-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526602-f2b4b3a73d05115d64e6dde99a7c9192/orig.mp4?Expires=1775229636&Signature=Mf55kBe--ksmcMyV6qVLIaaqX5jux46A7Q5DPS52M-DiCmqjV8ANd20mTA~ETaWVLewmK2RYatAnaJjk47ePJbmYN2OGlPJhraxYN2cUXp0WT3sIj~MIlkYMalhjyQQ~SA-BAuYRQvhUMWLbtbiF68HzqE5f-Q~APk~LpGJoxFQjs-V4SRw~3WGw~2uWTukb8TF20BGBKAhJGMTV5Kkik3pzFUAWn6M-KnkcJ7fAz7LgyJPnG1ZuALhfPLXHUHMboaTKXtyQ73xyqf6CjKiQIzFCdTHeWG9b-AsMDjGlROhOwiNXOp9AwlRfi0L2-PRaytopwyWzcPePlfxjYCRIJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laguna Beach City Council on June 10 sustained a code-required automatic appeal of a Design Review Board decision concerning a modification at 482 Astor Street, upholding the board’s prior approval.

The appeal was placed before the council because a member of the Design Review Board, Chair Gibbs, has an ownership interest in the property, triggering an automatic appeal under the municipal code. City Project Planner Kate Kazama told the council the municipal code mandates that automatic appeals of that nature be heard by council and recommended sustaining the board’s approval.

No members of the public spoke in opposition during the verbal public-comment period, and council members had no additional questions for staff. A motion to adopt the staff-recommended action was made and seconded; the roll call vote was recorded as three ayes, zero noes. Council member Jones was recused from the matter because of proximity to the property.

Because the appeal was automatic under local rules, the council’s action was procedural: it reviewed the Design Review Board’s decision and found no basis to overturn it. The decision preserves the Board’s prior design approval for the Astor Street modification and closes the appeal process at the city level.

The council adjourned the special meeting that had convened for the Astor Street matter and returned to its regular special meeting schedule.","Council sustained a code-required automatic appeal of a design review board approval for a property at 482 Astor Street and upheld the board’s prior decision by a 3-0 vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council upholds design review for new South Laguna Fire Station, adds conditions on materials, landscape and daylighting

Council upholds Planning Commission approval of temporary parklet at Auto Sushi

Laguna Beach council designates Lower Forest Avenue a slow street, denies appeals and clears way for promenade design review

Laguna Beach council sustains design board approval for Astor Street property