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Council gives first reading to design‑review efficiency ordinance after neighborhood talks
Summary
Laguna Beach held the first reading of an ordinance to streamline design review and codify administrative approvals; staff removed proposed changes to the Sarah Thirstston Park specific plan for separate review during a broader zoning-code update after neighborhood feedback.
Laguna Beach City Council introduced (title only) an ordinance June 23 meant to streamline design review, expand objective ministerial pathways for certain housing projects and codify common staff practices for administrative design review.
The draft ordinance would consolidate and simplify design-review criteria, expand administrative (ministerial) review for eligible project types, and institute a public‑hearing waiver process that gives surrounding residents 15 working days (roughly three weeks) to request a hearing after public notice. Staff said the intent is to reduce backlogs, improve permit predictability and free planning staff to focus on projects requiring discretionary design review.
After receiving detailed public comments — including from residents of the Sarah Thirstston Park neighborhood — staff recommended removing proposed amendments to that specific plan from the ordinance and to address them as part of the city’s comprehensive zoning‑code update. Council instructed staff to (1) post Community Development notices prominently on the city web page, (2) return the ordinance for a second reading and consideration of an urgency ordinance on July 21, and (3) present revised design guidelines to align with the consolidated DR criteria.
Residents at the hearing urged care on notice timing, plan availability and the appeal/referral process; staff said that administrative matters already include mailed notice to owners within 300 feet and tenants within 100 feet and that staff makes materials available at City Hall and posts notices online. Council members praised the multi‑year public engagement process and requested that pedestrian entry feature rules and some hillside easement language be addressed as part of the broader code update rather than by the immediate ordinance.
Council passed the motion to introduce the ordinance unanimously. Staff will post the revised draft and return for second reading and possible urgency adoption on July 21.
