Council upholds Planning Commission approval for new South Laguna Fire Station, directs materials and landscape review

Laguna Beach City Council reviewed a call‑up of the Planning Commission’s conditional approval for the proposed Fire Station No. 4 at 31796 Coast Highway and voted to uphold the Planning Commission’s action while adding procedural direction for final materials and landscaping.

The project: The proposed new fire station would replace the city’s existing South Laguna emergency facility with an 8,367‑square‑foot building designed to house three full‑time firefighter/paramedic crews and ambulance staffing, with capacity specified for future staffing changes. Primary vehicle access is proposed from Fifth Avenue; the design places apparatus bays facing Coast Highway and public access and employee access oriented to Fifth Avenue. The project scope includes building construction, retaining walls, site grading and limited on‑site parking.

History and entitlements: The council was asked to consider design review after the Planning Commission granted conditional approval on May 21. The site was the subject of a prior council action approving property…