Council pauses Hansen Hotel de novo appeal after notice error; hearing rescheduled for May 19

City staff told the council it received a demand letter alleging a defect in the public notice for the Hansen Hotel de novo appeal (Project 25-323). Community Development Director Adam Mattamian said the published notice listed an address missing a digit and staff recommended renoticing and bringing the matter back to a future meeting to satisfy noticing laws. "Staff is recommending that we do not hold this hearing tonight. We renotice it and bring it back ... at the earliest possible time, which would be the May 19th meeting," Mattamian said.

Public testimony included the appellant noting procedural concerns and environmental commenters from the California Native Plant Society who reported a pre‑disturbance biological assessment and voiced concern over recent vegetation removal. Ron Vanderhoff of the Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society said the site previously documented a coastal sage scrub community and warned that "vegetation removal is considered development under the Coastal Act and may require a coastal development permit." He asked the city to require a predisturbance biological assessment and coordinate with regulatory agencies before proceeding.

Outcome: The council voted to continue the de novo hearing to the May 19 regular meeting, and asked staff to renotice and prepare a fresh staff report. Parties on both sides had agreed to a continuance in writing and the council asked staff to explore waiving renoticing fees in cases where the city’s error caused the delay.