Laguna Beach council designates Lower Forest Avenue a slow street, denies appeals and clears way for promenade design review

The Laguna Beach City Council on June 10 adopted a resolution designating the lower portion of Forest Avenue as a slow street, denied multiple appeals of planning approvals for the Promenade on Forest project and found the project falls within the state pedestrian-facility exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

City Manager Louis Lacassella and project staff told the council the Promenade is a multi-component project that would create a permanent pedestrian plaza on Lower Forest Avenue with widened walkways, new planting, trench drains, brick pavers and space for outdoor dining, public art and performances. Assistant planner Jane (last name not specified in record) reviewed the city’s legal analysis and said the project meets the statutory CEQA exemption for pedestrian and bicycle facilities under Public Resources Code §21080.25(b)(1). “The project qualifies for the statutory exemption as a pedestrian facility within the public right of way,” Jane told the council during the staff presentation.

The project requires several entitlements: adoption of a Slow Streets resolution (based on the California Vehicle Code), a coastal development permit for closure of Lower…