Planning Commission approves Forest Promenade design, signs off on CEQA exemption

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission on April 2 approved design review (DR 25-0319) and a coastal development permit (CDP 25-0318) for the Forest Promenade project, a proposed permanent pedestrian plaza on Lower Forest Avenue in downtown Laguna Beach.

The item drew lengthy public comment and a detailed consultant presentation. City staff and design consultant SWA explained the project scope, outreach and design intent: transform Lower Forest Avenue into a pedestrian-priority promenade featuring a continuous paving field, expanded tree plantings and seating, planting areas, flexible dining zones, lighting, and removable bollards for emergency access. Louie Lacasello (Community Development) summarized city outreach and entitlement history; Sean O’Malley and Evan Lee from SWA presented the design, focus-group process, materials mock-ups and arborist recommendations.

The project team and staff emphasized the outreach process — multiple city workshops, focused stakeholder groups, and an ad-hoc Council committee — and reviewed deferred decision points the commission requested at an earlier review: (1) the two ficus trees at each end of the promenade (limb or remove and replace), (2) whether to place a specimen oak at a central corner, (3) tree-grate…