Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Recap June 11, 2025 -1-
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
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CONSENT CALENDAR
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PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (continued)
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INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS (continued)
WELCOME
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Rounaghi
ROLL CALL
Present: Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Orgill, Rounaghi
Participating Remotely: None
Absent: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS – APPEALS
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A. AUTOMATIC APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 25-0583 MODIFYING A PRIOR DESIGN
REVIEW TO NOW INCLUDE LOWER-LEVEL ADDITIONS, EXPANSION OF AN
ELEVATED DECK, WINDOW AND DOOR MODIFICATIONS, ROOF LINE REDUCTION,
AND A REQUEST TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BUILDING SITE COVERAGE AT 482 ASTER STREET, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 (CLASS 1)
Councilmember Bob Whalen recused himself due to the proximity of his residence to the project site. Councilmember Hallie Jones recused herself from this item pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), due to contributions made to her election campaign exceeding $250 by the applicant.
Moved by Councilmember Sue Kempf , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Orgill, and carried unanimously 3/0 to adopt Resolution #25.039 titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, SUSTAINING THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD’S DECISION TO APPROVE DESIGN REVIEW 25-0583 MODIFYING A
PRIOR DESIGN REVIEW TO NOW INCLUDE LOWER-LEVEL ADDITIONS, EXPANSION
OF AN ELEVATED DECK, WINDOW AND DOOR MODIFICATIONS, ROOF LINE
REDUCTION, AND A REQUEST TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BUILDING SITE COVERAGE AT 482 ASTER STREET, AND FINDING THE PROJECT
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 (CLASS 1)”, sustaining the Design Review Board’s approval of Design Review 25-0583 and finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
THE CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 3:51 P.M. TO THE 4:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
RECAP
Tuesday, June 11, 2025
Special Meeting 3:45 p.m.
Special Meeting 4:00 p.m.
CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Recap June 11, 2025 -2-
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – 4:00 P.M.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS – NON-APPEALS
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1. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE LOWER PORTION OF FOREST AVENUE AS A “SLOW STREET” AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
OR DESIGNEE TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS TO CLOSE THE STREET TO VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC, AND FINDING THE ACTION STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”) UNDER SECTION 21080.25(b) OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Orgill, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #25.040 titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE
LOWER PORTION OF FOREST AVENUE AS A SLOW STREET AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS TO CLOSE THE
LOWER PORTION OF FOREST AVENUE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND FINDING
THE ACTION IS STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080”; with Section 4 revised to state that the designation would not go into effect until award of a construction contract.
Moved by Mayor Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Bob Whalen, and carried unanimously 5/0 to find that the proposed action is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b).
PUBLIC HEARINGS – APPEALS
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A. APPEALS OF (1) PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 25-0319 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-0318 TO CONVERT A TEMPORARY
PEDESTRIAN PLAZA INTO A MORE PERMANENT PEDESTRIAN PLAZA AT LOWER FOREST AVENUE AND (2) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-0587 REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF
LOWER FOREST AVENUE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, AND FINDING THESE
ACTIONS STATUTORILY EXEMPT UNDER CEQA PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.25(B)
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Mayor Alex Rounaghi, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #25.041 titled " A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE APPEAL AND SUSTAINING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 25-0319 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-0318 AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25- 0587, AND FINDING THE PROJECT STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.25(B)”, upholding the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of Design Review 25-0319 and Coastal Development Permit 25-0318 and the Community Development Director’s conditional approval of Coastal Development Permit 25-0587, and finding Design Review 25-0319 and Coastal Development Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Recap June 11, 2025 -3-
Permits 25-0318 and 25-0587 statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b), with the modifications presented by staff, removing the language throughout the resolution regarding working to implement parking requirements of AB 413, and modifying Section 2 to replace language referencing the proposed resolution with language referencing Section 3 of the approved Slow Street resolution.
B. PUBLIC HEARING FOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY USE PERMIT 25-0650, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-0652 AND CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 (MINOR
ALTERATIONS TO LAND) AND, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, CEQA GUIDELINES, SECTION 15301 (EXISTING FACILITIES) TO CONSTRUCT AN OUTDOOR DINING
PARKLET OPERATED BY OTO SUSHI IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 370 GLENNEYRE STREET
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Orgill, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #25.042 titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO APPROVE TEMPORARY USE PERMIT 25- 0650 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-0652 TO CONSTRUCT AN OUTDOOR DINING PARKLET OPERATED BY OTO SUSHI IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OFWAY ADJACENT TO 370 GLENNEYRE STREET AND TO FIND THE ACTION
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 (MINOR
ALTERATIONS TO LAND) AND, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, CEQA GUIDELINES, SECTION 15304 (MINOR ALTERATIONS TO LAND) AND, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, SECTION 15301 (EXISTING FACILITIES)”, sustaining the Planning Commission’s approval of the aforementioned entitlements and CEQA determination.
C. PUBLIC HEARING FOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 25-0261 AT 31796 COAST HIGHWAY (APN 056-105- 04, -07, AND -35), AND FINDING NO SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR
THE PROJECT IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15162 (CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH FIRE STATION #4)
Moved by Mayor Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Hallie Jones, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #25.043 titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO APPROVE DESIGN REVIEW 25-0261 FOR FIRE STATION #4 AT 31796 COAST HIGHWAY AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15162”, upholding the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of Design Review 25-0261, and finding no subsequent environmental review for the Project is required from the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration adopted by the City Council on November 15, 2022, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, with added conditions that the City Manager, or his designee, have final approval authority on a color and material board, and a landscape plan, after obtaining feedback from the Planning Commission and Morris Skenderian, and that skylights with operable automatic night shades are added to the roof design to provide natural light for the second-floor dayroom.
Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Recap June 11, 2025 -4-
ADJOURNMENT AT 8:33 P.M., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025,
TO THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION AT 2:30 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION AT 4:30 P.M.
AND REGULAR MEETING AT 5:00 P.M.
TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025