Laguna Beach planning commission continues review of South Laguna Fire Station 4 after design and outreach concerns

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission on March 19, 2025, voted to continue consideration of a proposed Fire Station 4 in South Laguna to May 21, 2025, after commissioners and dozens of residents raised concerns about building massing, streetscape impacts, rooftop mechanical equipment, and the scope of community outreach.

The project would replace an existing, seismically outdated station at 31796 Coast Highway with an approximately 8,400-square-foot, primarily two-story fire station intended to house three full-time firefighters and two ambulance operators plus associated apparatus and support spaces. City staff presented plans showing a three-bay apparatus area, living quarters, a small amount of public-facing glazing, about 10 parking spaces, and roughly 3,700 square feet of proposed landscaping.

Commissioners and residents pressed the design team on several technical and design details—ceiling heights, location of rooftop mechanicals, potential visual impacts on nearby houses across Virginia Way, generator noise and testing frequency, lighting design, and the project’s public-outreach record. Tom Perez, the city engineer presenting for the Public Works and Utilities Department, and Bruce Oh of PBK Architects answered detailed design questions. Fire Chief Niko King described operational and security needs for a modern station.

“Laguna Beach doesn’t have a modern fire station. A modern fire station hasn’t been built in this community in decades,” Fire Chief Niko King said, noting the need for secure storage of expensive equipment and 24/7 operational capability.

Why it matters: City officials say a replacement station is needed for operational and seismic safety reasons; residents say the corner location in South Laguna and the building mass require a stronger design response and more robust outreach. Commissioners said they wanted changes that would reduce perceived bulk and improve the building’s public-facing design while preserving operational functionality.

Key project details and staff clarifications - Location: 31796 Coast Highway (South Laguna Village commercial zone). (Tom Perez) - Proposed building size: approximately 8,400 square feet (presented by staff as smaller than the project…