RESOLUTION NO. 25.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, LIMITING THE NUMBER
OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS; AND FINDING THE ACTION
EXEMPT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301
WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Beach (“City”) staff has been evaluating various measures to improve efficiency within the Community Development Department to assist with backlog issues and to improve the processing of planning applications within the City; and WHEREAS, as part of this process, the City held a community workshop on October 1, 2024 to gain feedback on potential solutions, including the development of a Design Review Efficiency Ordinance (“DR Efficiency Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, following such workshop, the City released to the public a cover letter summarizing the DR Efficiency Ordinance changes and the DR Efficiency Ordinance itself for purposes of gathering specific feedback to incorporate into the ordinance; and WHEREAS, thereafter, City staff evaluated other considerations, such as the DR Efficiency Ordinance’s vertical consistency with the City’s General Plan, and the public comments received, and recommended changes to the DR Efficiency Ordinance; and WHEREAS, on March 12, 2025, the City held a study session among the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board on the DR Efficiency Ordinance; and WHEREAS, on April 8, 2025, the City Council considered the DR Efficiency Ordinance and directed staff to present the DR Efficiency Ordinance with additional changes read into the record to the Planning Commission; and
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WHEREAS, on July 22, 2025, the City Council considered the development of objective design standards and City staff thereafter made additional changes to the DR Efficiency Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on September 18, 2025, the City Council considered an updated version of the DR Efficiency Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City believes that removing the limitations and allowances for public hearings in the Municipal Code and adopting such limitations and allowances by resolution will assist with the backlog and efficiency issues within the Community Development Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES RESOLVE:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the recitals above are true and correct and are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council.
SECTION 2. Consideration of a housing development project1 application, including a proposal to construct a single dwelling unit, shall be limited to a maximum of two public hearings and meetings by the Design Review Board or Planning Commission, as appropriate.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that adoption of this Resolution is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 because it consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving 1 “Housing Development Project” has the same meaning as the term is defined in Government Code Section 65905.5(b)(3).
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negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the adoption of this Resolution meets the exemption because it modifies how the City processes housing development projects within the City on a procedural basis and will not result in an expansion of any existing use.
SECTION 4. This resolution shall become effective when Ordinance No. XXXX (the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance) becomes effective.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
ADOPTED this _____ day of _________, 2025.
Alex Rounaghi, Mayor
ATTEST:
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
I, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 25.XXX was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on _____________, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, California
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