Council approves expanded scope for comprehensive zoning-code update to add objective design standards and parking study

Laguna Beach — The city council on July 22 approved an amendment to its contract with De Novo Planning Group to expand the scope of a comprehensive zoning-code update. The work includes the development of objective design standards (ODS) for single- and two-family homes, an expanded commercial parking analysis, and updates to commercial/industrial zones.

What the council approved: The amendment increases the consultant contract by $388,300, bringing the total contract to $709,749. Staff and the project ad hoc recommended the council approve the larger scope to address recent state housing-law changes that require objective design standards when certain residential development is eligible for ministerial review. The council prioritized two workstreams — parking-code refinements and objective design standards — for completion and council consideration within roughly one year; the full code update remains slated across a longer schedule (approximately 26 months) with the remainder budgeted in a future fiscal cycle.

Why it matters: Recent state laws limit a city’s ability to deny ministerially eligible housing projects if the denial rests on “subjective” design standards. Developing objective design standards that can be applied without discretionary (design-review) interpretations lets the city preserve design control while complying with state mandates and allowing eligible projects to proceed under objective criteria.

Key deliverables and outreach: The expanded scope calls for (1) a detailed parking-demand study modeled on the downtown study methodology, with counts in summer and non-summer periods; (2) ODS in two phases (a faster “box-within-box” interim form/massing standard and a more detailed phase with multiple architectural styles and checklists prepared by subconsultant JKA); (3) updates to commercial, M-1A and related zoning standards; and (4) community outreach including stakeholder interviews and pop-ups. Council asked staff to ensure adequate public workshop time and follow-up reporting on how public input was incorporated.

Next steps: Staff will begin parking counts and ODS work under the prioritized schedule and return to council with draft standards and parking-code recommendations. Staff plans to request remaining appropriations in the FY 26/27 budget for the rest of the work.