Laguna Beach Council sustains design approvals, designates Lower Forest Avenue a slow street with conditions

The Laguna Beach City Council voted unanimously to sustain previous approvals for the Promenade on Forest Avenue, designate the lower portion of Forest Avenue as a slow street and find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b)(1).

The council’s actions on the Promenade came after several hours of staff presentations, technical explanation and public testimony that included hundreds of written comments and more than 150 people speaking in person. Staff described the item as a combined review of (1) a slow-streets resolution, (2) design review and coastal development entitlements for pedestrian plaza improvements and (3) a coastal development permit to close a segment of Lower Forest Avenue to vehicular traffic. City staff recommended sustaining approvals previously issued by the Planning Commission and the community development director.

The Promenade project began as a COVID-era pedestrian plaza in 2020 and was advanced by council direction and consultant work in subsequent years. Staff told the council the project consists of permanent walking surfaces, new paving and planters, trench drains, new trees and lighting, enlarged sidewalks for dining and performance space, and drainage improvements designed to convey stormwater to the Laguna Canyon Channel. Consultants’ parking analysis and hydrology work were summarized in the staff presentation; traffic and drainage studies were cited as not showing new or greater impacts than existing conditions. Planning staff also described extensive outreach that included focus groups, public workshops, a council/commission joint session, mailed notices and two council meetings on the project.

Why it matters: The decision will allow the city to move the Promenade project forward into final design and later…