Planning commission approves Golden Spoon frozen yogurt shop at Aliso Creek Plaza

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission on April 16 approved a conditional use permit and coastal development permit to allow Golden Spoon frozen yogurt to occupy a 950-square-foot suite at the Aliso Creek Shopping Center in South Laguna.

Staff member Sarah (Community Development Department) told the commission the proposed use is permitted in the Commercial Neighborhood zone but requires a conditional use permit only because the project seeks to rely on a revised shared-parking study prepared by RK Engineering Group and peer reviewed by the city’s consultant. The study evaluated parking demand for the center — which the staff report said contains roughly 83,000 square feet across 18 suites and provides about 395 parking spaces — and concluded there will be sufficient parking with Golden Spoon’s addition.

Sarah explained the change of use requires assessing a different parking ratio: a bank typically requires one space per 250 square feet while a food-service use requires one space per 100 square feet (or one space per three seats, whichever is greater). The shared-parking analysis applies time-of-day demand factors across the center’s tenants and, as peer reviewed, supported approving a reduced on-site allocation for the frozen-yogurt tenant.

Commissioners asked whether kitchen exhaust or hoods would be required; the applicant, Spencer Fabian, said Golden Spoon would operate primarily with refrigeration and yogurt machines and would not use a full commercial stove setup. Fabian confirmed restrooms would be shared within the center and that trash would be handled at the dumpsters in the alley behind the shops.

Questions about signage were answered by staff: sign permits would be handled administratively under the shopping center’s master sign program. Commissioners also discussed the city’s broader initiative; Anthony (staff) said City Council has directed staff to prioritize revisions to parking requirements outside the downtown specific plan as part of a comprehensive zoning-code update.

No members of the public spoke. After discussion, the Planning Commission adopted the resolution approving CUP 25-0638 and CDP 25-0667 and finding the action exempt from CEQA. The vote was unanimous.

The commission’s approval relies on the peer-reviewed shared-parking study; staff noted the center’s parking management and master sign program will govern operational details such as trash, signage and any administrative permits.

Appeals: The standard 14-day appeal period to City Council applies.