Laguna Beach design board approves several home projects, continues and conditions others after hours of public comment

The Laguna Beach Design Review Board met Nov. 13 and approved several residential projects while sending more complex items back for revisions. The board, meeting at Laguna Beach City Hall, approved design-review and coastal-development permits (CDPs) for a mix of remodels and new single-family homes and attached accessory units, and it continued or conditioned other items after extensive public comment.

Among the approvals, the board unanimously approved a modest accessibility change at 1009 Cliff Drive, a coastal-permit and design-review request to add a 15-square-foot elevator shaft so longtime homeowners can age in place. Marshall Linens, representing the owners, said the elevator “stays underneath the existing roof” and would be minimally visible; the board voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution approving design review 25-1803 and CDP 25-1802 after staff advised the project is CEQA-exempt.

A second unanimous vote (5-0) cleared a larger new home at 22362 Eagle Rock Way. Staff summarized a 4,963-square-foot single-family proposal with a new access off an existing easement and an elevated guest parking terrace. Project architect Jim Conrad said the design uses the recorded access easement and that the owner will widen the private access to 16 feet where required by the city to allow safe vehicle movements. Neighbors raised concerns about the steep, narrow private…