Laguna Beach council and planning commission advance 'Forest of Laguna' design, direct CEQA and planning review

Laguna Beach officials directed staff and the project design team to refine plans for the Promenade (branded as “Forest of Laguna”) and begin environmental review after a public hearing with business owners, residents and design consultants.

The council and planning commission convened a joint meeting where the city’s project lead, Louie (staff member), summarized the process that produced the conceptual design and turned the presentation over to Sean O’Malley, managing principal of SWA Group, who described the consultant’s proposal to convert Lower Forest Avenue to a fully pedestrian plaza with expanded paving, gardens, flexible seating and infrastructure for programming.

The project matters because it would make the one‑block section of Lower Forest a permanent, year‑round public plaza and alter parking, traffic and retail access in the downtown village. Louie told the commissions the promenade was created under temporary emergency authorizations during the COVID‑19 pandemic and is currently allowed under a temporary use permit and coastal development permit through January 2027; the City Council previously directed staff to pursue permanent conversions.

SWA’s concept keeps many existing trees, adds three new trees net, proposes a 15‑foot clear zone from building face to garden edge to improve circulation, and uses a single paving plane across the former roadway to create a flexible “living room” for events, seating and dining. O’Malley said the design emphasizes…