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Design Review Board approves Scenic Drive remodel; neighbor privacy and rope‑lighting become conditions
Summary
The board approved a remodel and ADU conversion at 31652 Scenic Drive April 9, 2026, after a neighbor raised parking and privacy concerns; the board required removal or modification of decorative rope lighting as a condition of approval.
The Laguna Beach Design Review Board voted to approve a remodel and garage-to‑ADU conversion at 31652 Scenic Drive on April 9, after neighbors raised concerns about parking and potential privacy impacts.
Staff described the project and said it complied with design review and municipal code development standards. During public comment Lauren Lee, a neighbor at 31662 Scenic Drive, asked the board to consider narrow street parking, the conversion of a garage to an ADU and a forward‑positioned deck that she said would look directly into her dining room and living area. "The deck is going about approximately 15 ft forward and it looks right into my dining room," Lee said, adding she feared the site would be rented and produce more occupants.
The applicant explained the project retains tandem parking on site and that reconfiguring to side‑by‑side parking would require significant grading; staff confirmed the tandem parking complies with code for an ADU when two on‑site stalls are maintained. Board members visited the site and reviewed photos; while one member said privacy impacts looked negligible from their vantage, another asked the applicant to secure shielding for exterior lighting to comply with Laguna Beach’s dark‑sky considerations.
Board member Debbie Neve said, "I would like to see that impact [on privacy]," and asked the applicant to adjust lighting. The applicant agreed to eliminate or replace rope‑style accent lighting so fixtures could be shielded to avoid glare to neighbors.
The board approved the design review unanimously (recusal noted for one member on a different item), with a condition requiring removal or shielding of rope lights and confirmation of tandem parking compliance. Staff will incorporate the condition into the final resolution.
What happens next: Staff will prepare the final written resolution with the lighting condition. Any appeal rights follow the regular notice and appeal timeline.
