Planning commission OKs artist live-work conditional use permit for Laguna Canyon Road unit

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission voted unanimously Aug. 29 to approve a conditional use permit for an artist—s work-live unit at 3337 Laguna Canyon Road, Unit C, allowing the property owner to establish artist live-work occupancy subject to standard conditions.

Associate planner Sammy Montalto presented the staff recommendation and a history of the property: the building was condominiumized in 1994 and had an artist-work-live permit approved in 1996 that lapsed because no unit was established within two years. "The planning commission approved a conditional use permit in 1996 to establish and operate artist work live units. However, this permit lapsed 2 years later," Montalto said. Units B and D later received permits to reestablish work-live use in 2017 and 2018.

Applicant Kathleen (Katie) Clark told the commission she has owned Unit C since February 2001, operates Kathleen Clark Photography and holds a city business license. Clark said she intends to occupy the unit herself. "I plan on occupying the unit myself," Clark said. She also described earlier difficulties obtaining financing because of the mixed commercial-residential classification when she purchased the property.

Staff noted that approval of the conditional use permit authorizes the land-use designation. Any future occupants will require an artist occupancy permit administered by the Arts Commission and the cultural arts manager; that permit evaluates whether the types of artwork and production activities are compatible with the applicable zone and performance standards for noise, odor, smoke, dust and dirt. As staff explained, "The Arts Commission will ensure that the types of artwork produced in the space will be consistent and compatible within the underlying zone."

Commission discussion focused on the scope of allowed art-production activities in the M-1B light-industrial zone and on the policy rationale for separate review by the Arts Commission for occupancy permits. Commissioners described M-1A and M-1B as the city—s more intensive zones where a broader range of art production activities would typically be acceptable, and several commissioners said they favored expanding live-work opportunities in appropriate locations.

The commission moved to approve the conditional use permit and found the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The motion passed on a roll call vote: Sadler, Whiting, Dubin and Chair Kellenberg all voted yes.

The Arts Commission retains authority to review and approve the artist occupancy permit for future tenants and to ensure compliance with the work-live performance standards.

Votes at a glance - Conditional Use Permit 25-0565 (3337 Laguna Canyon Road, Unit C): approved (4-0).