Laguna Beach design review board approves several residential projects; requires asphalt fill on Rembrandt and tree-height limit on Manzanita

The Laguna Beach Design Review Board approved a slate of single‑family home remodels and additions at its July 24 meeting, voting unanimously on each project after staff presentations and brief public comment. The most consequential change was a condition the board added to the project at 945 Rembrandt Drive requiring the one‑foot strip between the property wall and the existing pavement to be paved with asphalt to match the roadway. The board also approved a condition limiting tree heights to 15 feet within the revocable encroachment area for 790 Manzanita Street, contingent on there being no legal prohibition.

Why it matters: Several of the approvals involved coastal development permits or revocable encroachment permits that affect public right‑of‑way and neighborhood view equity. The Rembrandt decision addressed emergency‑vehicle access and street width concerns; the Manzanita condition seeks to protect view lines for an adjacent neighbor while clarifying maintenance responsibility for vegetation in the revocable encroachment area.

Rembrandt Drive and public right‑of‑way condition

After staff described the project at 945 Rembrandt Drive — a new single‑family home with pool, spa, elevated decks, and a relocated vehicle access from Rembrandt to Van Dyke — board members and the applicant debated whether to require a public parking stall along Rembrandt. Staff and the applicant said topography and retaining‑wall impacts made an on‑street public stall impractical; the project instead provides garage and driveway access at the upper Van Dyke side. Board members raised safety and circulation concerns for the narrow Rembrandt corridor and ultimately adopted the staff resolution with a board condition requiring the narrow one‑foot strip between the property wall and the existing pavement be paved to match the adjacent asphalt.

Architect Doug Mansfield, representing the applicants, told the board the project team had “looked at parking in on the street” and that retaining‑wall heights and site topography had made several on‑street options infeasible. The motion adding the asphalt condition passed on a roll call vote.

Manzanita Street: tree‑height limit added

For 790 Manzanita Street, the board approved design review and a revocable encroachment permit for a modest one‑story addition, exterior remodel and public‑right‑of‑way landscaping, and added a condition requiring that vegetation installed in the revocable encroachment area be maintained at or below 15 feet in height “contingent on there not being any other legal requirements associated with trimming those trees.” The homeowner representatives said some of the trees of concern sit outside the private property line in the revocable encroachment area; staff explained revocable encroachment permit improvements are typically maintained by the adjacent property owner.

Other approvals and staff findings

- 1286 Temple Terrace (landscape modifications): Staff found the proposed retaining walls, grading, planting, irrigation and lighting comply with design review guidelines; the board approved the project after a brief applicant presentation and no public opposition. The applicant said neighbors requested minor tree adjustments; the revised planting plan was submitted with the application.

- 1005 Coastview Drive (upper‑level addition and attached ADU): The board found the project consistent with the design review guidelines and the Laguna Beach Municipal Code and approved the design review and coastal development permit. Staff noted the attached ADU is tucked under the existing garage and that the project will not substantively impair views or privacy.

- 31411 Monterey Street (upper and lower level additions, ADU under garage): The board approved the design review and coastal development permit. Staff and board members discussed glazing on the ocean side; after site visits and review, the board found the glazing acceptable and the ADU visually compatible.

- 1640 Hillcrest Drive (addition, remodel and revocable encroachment): The board approved the project and associated revocable encroachment permit; staff and the architect said on‑street parking and existing steps required the revocable encroachment review and that changes respect neighboring views.

How the board acted on consent and continuances

The board approved the consent minutes for May 22 and recorded an abstention by Board member Belka on the December 12 minutes (“I’d like to abstain from the December 12 meeting minutes. I was not in attendance,” Belka said during roll call). Several agenda items (including 411 Holly Street, 2155 Temple Hills Drive, 337 Hawthorne Road and 934 Miramar Street) were continued to later dates by a single motion and roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Continued items 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.9 to the dates listed in the staff report; motion moved from the dais and seconded; roll call recorded a recusal for one item where a board member lives within 500 feet. Outcome: continued.

- 5.6 — 1286 Temple Terrace, Design Review 25‑1078 — Motion to approve as proposed in staff report.…