Planning commission approves new Beach Road home with modified stair setbacks over objections

The Dana Point Planning Commission on April 14 approved Coastal Development Permit CDP21‑0021, Site Development Permit SDP22‑007 and Administrative Modification of Standards AMS25‑003 to allow construction of a 4,741‑square‑foot single‑family residence with a 1,564‑square‑foot garage at 35817 Beach Road, located within the Beach Road community and the city’s coastal zone and floodplain overlay.

Staff planner John Ciampa told commissioners the vacant 5,700‑square‑foot lot is in an area subject to coastal flooding and wave action and within the Coastal Commission appeals jurisdiction. The project requires a coastal development permit because it is new development in the coastal zone and a site development permit because of the floodplain overlay. The applicant also requested administrative modifications to setback standards for entry and seaward stairs needed to reach seaward decks; staff recommended approval of the modifications, saying the request is consistent with recent approvals for similar infill beach‑front homes.

Ciampa described project elevations, noting that a site‑specific wave run‑up study established a future base flood elevation (FBE) of 22 feet;…