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Laguna Beach mayor says city studying concerts at Irvine Bowl; CEQA and sound analysis planned
Summary
Mayor Alex Unagi told a radio interview that the city is researching expanded music use of the Irvine Bowl, citing sound mitigation work and a planned California Environmental Quality Act review ahead of a possible council approval for a fall concert.
Mayor Alex Unagi said Laguna Beach is exploring expanded live-music use of the Irvine Bowl and will pursue sound studies and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review before any concert approvals. “So we're looking at ways to, later in early July, on our council meeting, we have an agenda item related to the Irvine Bowl policy committee and and having a a a concert at the Irvine Bowl this fall,” Unagi said.
The mayor framed the study as part of a broader effort to support the city’s arts scene. “Well, arts really define what Laguna Beach is all about,” Unagi said, noting the Sawdust Festival, Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters as ongoing summer events. He said officials planned to examine how similar venues—he specifically referenced the Santa Barbara Bowl—manage sound mitigation while operating in neighborhood settings.
Unagi said the city will do more research and collaborate with the Festival of the Arts and community stakeholders on potential uses of the Irvine Bowl. He told the program the city is pursuing a sound analysis and CEQA review and expects to seek formal approval at an early July City Council meeting if the analyses support the proposal.
A specific concert referenced in the interview is the event organized by Ben Warner scheduled for this fall; Unagi said that approvals are required before it can go forward. The mayor did not give dates, ticketing details, or funding sources for any proposed shows, saying only that staff will complete the required analyses.
If approved, expanded Irvine Bowl programming could increase live-music options in Laguna Beach but would first require the technical and environmental reviews Unagi described.
