The Laguna Beach Design Review Board on Dec. 11 approved a series of residential and coastal development permits and variances while imposing site-specific conditions to address view, privacy and public-right-of-way concerns.

The board approved the 2026 DRB calendar and continued three items — 1025 Cortez (5.1), 950 Baja Street (5.2), and 1199 Temple Hills Drive (5.5) — to the Jan. 22, 2026 meeting. A consent motion for the calendar and the set of continuances passed unanimously.

Major approvals included a historic-duplex remodel at 154 Thalia Street (design review 25‑1662, coastal development permit 25‑1663 and a revocable encroachment permit 25‑1664), approved with a condition limiting a corner tree to approximately a 9‑foot height subject to arborist review; a variance and design review for 114 South LaSenda to stabilize bluff-top erosion (resolution 25‑0771), and a pool and spa at 31261 Monterey Street (resolution 25‑2195).

The board approved 31131 Monterey Street’s design review and coastal permit with a specific condition requiring the project’s spa to be shifted back two feet from Coast Highway after neighbors raised repeated concerns about incremental expansions and view impacts. 1475 Pacific Avenue and 777 Bluebird Canyon Drive (ADU and height/variance requests) were approved; 1445 Hillcrest (two ADUs from lower-level storage) received approval with variance findings supported by staff; 721 Manzanita Drive was approved subject to a condition to extend sidewalk/retaining improvements in coordination with public works and encroachment permits.

A contested and high‑profile item at 2058 Crestview drew extended public testimony over view equity, parking and emergency access. The board ultimately approved the project subject to a set of conditions agreed at the meeting: the full project must be pushed back two feet from the front property line and the uppermost roof reduced by two feet (a city staff‑reviewed maximum height limit was incorporated), plus fire access and fall‑protection conditions. The board recorded the motion on those modifications, with the staff to finalize precise language.

At 371 El Camino Del Mar the board approved an attached ADU that exceeded site‑coverage limits after the applicant offered a package of mitigation: lowering the structure by 18 inches, converting specified south/east‑facing windows to opaque tilt‑only operation, and installing a tall planted hedge along the shared property line to reduce direct sight lines. The conditions were added to preserve neighbor privacy while allowing the ADU.

The board directed staff to return 645 Buena Vista Way with a draft resolution, and adjourned the meeting to Jan. 22, 2026.

Votes at a glance (selected outcomes):
• 4.1 DRB calendar: approved (4‑0).
• 5.1 / 5.2 / 5.5: continued to 2026‑01‑22 (4‑0).
• 5.3 154 Thalia: approved with tree-height/arborist condition (resolution package adopted).
• 5.4 114 South LaSenda: approved (variance/design review).
• 5.6 195 High Drive: continued to March 12, 2026 for revisions.
• 5.7 31261 Monterey: approved.
• 5.8 31131 Monterey: approved with condition to pull spa back 2 feet (3‑1).
• 5.16 2058 Crestview: approved with conditions to push back 2 feet and lower upper roof 2 feet (4‑0).
• 5.14 371 El Camino Del Mar: approved with privacy mitigation conditions (4‑0).