The Laguna Beach City Council voted unanimously to overturn the Design Review Board’s denial of the coastal development permit for 1550 Bluebird Canyon Drive and to conditionally approve the project, adopting a staff‑prepared resolution that includes a measurable height reduction and fire‑safety conditions.

Staff framed the hearing around two legal themes: (1) the interplay between state housing laws (SB 4 50 and the Housing Accountability Act) and the Coastal Act’s savings clause, and (2) whether substantial evidence supported the DRB’s discretionary coastal development permit findings that the project would (a) minimize alteration of natural landforms and (b) be visually compatible with surrounding areas. Fire‑safety staff and consultants identified three technical elements in the very‑high fire hazard severity zone—hose pull, fire‑apparatus road width, and firefighter access path—and described alternative materials/methods and conditions that would mitigate those concerns.

Project architect Horst Knoppenberger described revisions made after neighborhood feedback—revising driveway alignment, reducing retaining walls where feasible, and pushing the house back to preserve natural topography. Neighbors opposed the project on the grounds of massing, ridge‑top siting, the scale of retaining walls, and possible impacts on public views and road safety. Supporters and the applicant argued much of the site had been previously graded and noted the plans respect applicable standards.

After council discussion about precedent (the recently approved Cover project nearby), measurable metrics (height above the knoll, height above street), and legal risk under housing statutes, staff proposed a measurable condition: reduce the project’s roof bridal line by 4 feet (lowering the maximum measured height above the highest point of the lot from approximately +13 feet to +9 feet, per staff analysis), and require final compliance with the fire department’s alternate‑methods memo and related conditions before building permits are issued. The council adopted the amended resolution and found the project categorically exempt under CEQA Class 3 for new construction.

Council members said they weighed neighborhood compatibility concerns but were constrained by state law and the record before them; they authorized staff to finalize conditions consistent with the council’s direction. The vote to overturn the DRB denial and approve the project was unanimous.