Laguna Beach planning panel approves two fuel‑modification zones after lengthy public hearing

The City of Laguna Beach Planning Commission on Feb. 5 unanimously approved design review and coastal permitting actions to establish two new fuel‑modification zones — FMZ 16 in Lower Hobo Canyon and FMZ 19 in Diamond Crestview — intended to create roughly 100‑foot fuel breaks to protect homes and infrastructure from wildfire.

Shweta Sharma, the city’s senior planner, told the commission the projects cover roughly 13.66 acres for FMZ 16 and about 25.44 acres for FMZ 19 and that the fire department expects initial clearing as early as spring 2025. Sharma said the environmental analysis identified special‑status plants in FMZ 16 and that some areas would be excluded from treatment to avoid impacts. “With mitigation, any potentially significant impacts to the native vegetation would be reduced to less than significant,” she said.

Why it matters: The two zones are the final fuel‑modification areas the city is processing as part of a program that now totals 27 FMZs citywide. Commissioners and residents repeatedly said the city needs to move quickly because of rising fire risk and the experience of recent conflagrations elsewhere in California.

Key facts and approvals - FMZ 19 (Diamond Crestview) — described in staff materials as about 25.44 acres and lying in a very high fire hazard severity area — was approved by the commission with design review and a coastal development permit. The commission adopted an initial study and a mitigated negative declaration and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program. The motion passed unanimously (Goldman: yes; Whiting: yes; Dubin: yes; Chair Pro Tem Kellenberg: yes; Chair Sadler: yes). - FMZ 16 (Lower Hobo Canyon) — described as about 13.66 acres and also in a very high…