Laguna Beach commissioners back use of local stone, ask city manager to decide final finishes for Fire Station No. 4

Laguna Beach planning commissioners on May 20 reviewed material and landscape choices for the city's Fire Station No. 4, urging staff and the city manager to prioritize locally sourced stone and natural wood where feasible while asking for a more detailed planting plan before final selections are locked in.

Tom Perez, city engineer in Public Works, walked commissioners through the finishes the city is weighing for the Coast Highway–facing three-story station, saying the original architect proposed Accoya natural wood and that staff also evaluated a two‑color advanced PVC/composite siding and dark‑bronze aluminum accents. For masonry, staff proposed split‑face concrete masonry unit (CMU) block in an Orco Black 100 color but said community members asked for San Onofre breccia veneer instead and that availability could limit how much veneer the city can source.

Perez said the apparatus bay doors would have dark‑bronze frames and tinted glass, that the painted stucco color would be Dunn‑Edwards 'Flintstone,' and that a cobble strip (the same Mesa cobble used at the village entrance) is proposed around the building base in lieu of a concrete perimeter. He also described landscape elements including proposed vines (Ficus pumila) on the large rear retaining wall, a shrub row and California coffeeberry for the top of the wall, and replacement street trees (a smaller eucalyptus variety and Western redbud on 5th Avenue).

Why it matters: Commissioners and local residents said material choices will determine how well the building fits into the South Laguna fabric. Several public commenters — notably James Henry of the South Laguna Civic Association — urged the city to reuse the familiar San Onofre breccia and to favor real wood over synthetic materials to preserve neighborhood character.

Commissioners recommended several concrete next steps: prioritize real stone on the most visible elevations, pursue Accoya or stained natural wood for cladding if maintenance and cost permit, and develop a planting plan with spacing, plant sizes and maintenance notes rather than the concept-level palette shown to the commission. Perez told commissioners the design review hearing for the project had concluded; the commission's role was advisory on finishes and the city manager will make final selections.

On contentious points, staff acknowledged constraints. Perez said local San Onofre breccia exists on private properties in town and that locating and securing enough material can be difficult; if sufficient breccia is unavailable the city could prioritize veneer on the most prominent elevations and use an alternative stone veneer elsewhere. On wood versus composite siding, staff said either material is constructible and reasonably durable; residents expressed a clear preference for natural wood.

Public input and procedural note: Residents asked for the removal of decorative bollards in front of the apparatus bays and for vines to be limited to the retaining wall rather than installed on building surfaces for maintenance reasons. Commissioners pressed staff for a planting plan that lists quantities, sizes and spacing; several commissioners said they would like the landscape plan to return for review or for staff to coordinate closely with local landscape experts during final design development.

What happens next: The commission's comments will be forwarded to the city manager for final decisions on finishes and landscape details. Staff said they will continue to seek local stone sources, confer with the arborist about tree availability, and refine the planting plan; they also noted that some final choices may be coordinated with the public‑art selection for the site. The commission did not take a formal vote on materials tonight because the City Council had directed staff to take commissioner input to the city manager for final selection.