Design Review Board approves reconstruction of storm-damaged private stairway at 1173 Marine Drive

The Laguna Beach Design Review Board on Wednesday approved a plan to reconstruct a private beach-access stairway destroyed in a May 2023 storm at 1173 Marine Drive, finding the repair exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

The board voted unanimously to adopt staff recommendations that the stairway, described by staff as a pre-Coastal Act, nonconforming encroachment, may be rebuilt “in the same location and size,” and that the project is exempt from CEQA under the categorical exemption cited in staff’s report. Heather (staff) told the board the project qualifies for a coastal permit exemption and that staff received eight letters of support from neighboring property owners.

Tom Simpson, the general contractor for the property owner, told the board he contacted city water-quality staff after the storm and followed city rules to remove concrete debris from the beach. Simpson said his review of historical permits shows the stairway and associated seawall date to the 1950s and predate the Coastal Act. He said the repair will replace eight steps and one landing of the 62-step access and that the seawall remains sound and will be the main structural support.

A neighbor and letter-writer, Nancy Bushnell, spoke in support, saying the stair section is an “eyesore” and the proposed work would be a “lovely addition” to the neighborhood.

Board members discussed public-safety and design-review standards before moving to approve the project. Roll-call votes recorded Board member Coveney, Board member Gibbs, Board member Weil and Chair Patan Bowman as voting yes. The motion carried.

The approval allows reconstruction of the short storm-damaged segment in its prior footprint, subject to the conditions and construction standards described in the staff report.