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 fire hazard severity area — was approved by the commission with design review and a consolidated coastal development permit that will be processed by the California Coastal Commission. The commission adopted an initial study and mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Motion passed unanimously (same roll call).

Treatment approach, exclusions and environmental review
City staff said the treatment protocol uses hand crews and a suite of non‑mechanized measures in compliance with the California Coastal Act. Sharma and the environmental consultant described targeted removal of “flashy” fuels and, where required, limited trimming of native vegetation to reduce ember exposure. The staff report and initial study identify special‑status plants in FMZ 16 and describe exclusion areas and mitigation measures; staff said those measures reduce impacts to less‑than‑significant levels under CEQA.

Herbicide use, monitoring and opt‑outs
Fire Marshal Robert Montegamu told the commission the fire department currently has “a pause on the use of any herbicide per direction of counsel, for study,” and that herbicides are not being used under the current treatment protocol. He said the department historically used targeted herbicide application for invasive species but that use is currently paused. Residents pressed for clarity about what tools may be used; several speakers suggested nonchemical options be prioritized but others urged the department to use every effective tool available for risk reduction.

The fire marshal also explained property‑owner opt‑outs: owners who decline city access must maintain required defensible space themselves under the city’s enforcement protocols and applicable state law; if hazards remain, the department will respond to complaints and enforce municipal code provisions as appropriate. The marshal said most owners cooperate and that the city has a high compliance rate.

Public comments and concerns
About two dozen residents and community volunteers spoke during the hearing. Many urged approval and emphasized evacuation and access problems in the Diamond Crestview neighborhoods. Matt Lawson, a longtime Emergency Disaster Preparedness Committee volunteer, told the commission “we stand at the same level of risk as they did in the Palisades and Lahaina and Paradise.” Other commenters pressed for faster Coastal Commission review or legislative fixes to speed permit processing, raised questions about water infrastructure and hydrant capacity, and asked how trees, paper streets, vacant lots and private property maintenance will be handled.

Fire leadership perspective
Fire Chief King described what firefighters have observed in recent large fires and emphasized that “it’s really the ember cast that is problematic” for structure protection; he said fuel modification zones reduce fire intensity where they are maintained, improving firefighters’ ability to protect structures. King and other staff said the city will continue to maintain permits in perpetuity rather than allowing them to lapse because reauthorizing them is costly and time‑consuming.

Commission discussion and next steps
Commissioners expressed unanimous support but also urged speed and continued coordination with state and regional agencies. The commission approved resolutions adopting the CEQA documents, design reviews and permits and directed staff to proceed with Coastal Commission submittal for the consolidated permit where required. Staff and the fire department said they will continue outreach, inspections and coordination with water agencies, and that the city will evaluate the adequacy of the 100‑foot width standard in light of evolving fire science.

Quotes
- “Right now…we have a pause on the use of any herbicide per direction of counsel, for study,” — Robert Montegamu, Fire Marshal.
- “It’s really the ember cast that is problematic,” — Chief King, Laguna Beach Fire Department.
- “We stand at the same level of risk as they did in the Palisades and Lahaina and Paradise,” — Matt Lawson, resident and former chair of the EDPC fire mitigation subcommittee.

What the approvals do not do
The planning commission’s approvals authorize the design and the CEQA findings; where a consolidated coastal permit is required the item will move to the California Coastal Commission for final action and local implementation depends on that agency’s timeline. The commission did not adopt any emergency ordinances or change state law.

Public resources and follow‑up
Staff noted that the full treatment protocol, environmental analyses and the mitigation monitoring and reporting program are available on the city’s website in the Planning Commission agenda packet. The fire department said residents can request complimentary wildfire consultation inspections via the fire prevention web page.

Ending note
The commission approved both items unanimously and closed the public hearing after roughly two hours of staff presentations, fire‑department testimony and extended public comment. Officials said initial clearing could begin in spring 2025 and that coordination with the California Coastal Commission and local water agencies will continue.