MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
January 6, 2026
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Orgill presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS - APPEALS
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A. APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 24-2113 FOR
MODIFICATIONS TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING AT 1813 TEMPLE HILLS DRIVE LOCATED IN THE R-1,
RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE, AND CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 (CLASS 4) Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Public Testimony in Support of the Appeal: Rhett and Sherry Schiffman, appellants, and Daniel Freedman, attorney for the appellants, presented their arguments on why the project should be denied, explaining the history of the disputes related to the landscaping.
Public Testimony in Opposition of the Appeal: Larry Nokes, attorney for the applicants, and Kavita Reddy, applicant, presented the project approved by the Design Review Board, and the reasons for the approval. Spencer Harrison, Nicole Anderson, Robin Walker, and Steve Kawaratani spoke in support of the project.
Rebuttal: Daniel Freedman, attorney for the appellants, rebutted comments made by the applicant team, and further explained the grounds of the appeal.
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #26.001 titled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE APPEAL AND UPHOLDING THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD'S APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 24-2113 FOR
MODIFICATIONS TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING AT 1813 TEMPLE HILLS DRIVE LOCATED IN THE R-1,
RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 (CLASS 4)," upholding the Design Review Board's conditional approval of Design Review 24-2113, with more restrictive conditions, including the Ficus Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 6, 2026 Benjamina (Weeping Fig) trees be maintained at a minimum height of 20 feet and a maximum height of 22.5 feet above adjacent grade, are to be trimmed twice yearly in April and October, and the property owner shall install copper stakes to identify the maximum allowable height of 22.5 feet for the three Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig) trees; and finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
B. PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DENIAL OF A PROJECT SEEKING COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-2588 AND DESIGN REVIEW 24-2588 FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING WITH AN ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE R-1 (RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY) ZONE LOCATED AT 1550 BLUEBIRD CANYON DRIVE (LOT A)
Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation and responded to Councilmembers' questions.
Public Testimony in Support of the Appeal: Horst Noppenberger, project architect, presented the proposed project. Morgan Gallagher, attorney for the applicant, and David Dyrnaes, applicant, explained the points of the appeal.
Public Testimony in Opposition of the Appeal: Joe Cover, Eileen Slora, Pamela Adams, Peter Grohmann, William Horner, Susan Whitin, and Harpal Sadhal spoke in opposition to the project.
Rebuttal: David Dyrnaes, applicant, further explained why the project should be approved.
Moved by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Mayor Mark Orgill, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #26.002 titled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, OVERTURNING THE DECISION OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD TO DENY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-2588 FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING WITH AN ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE R-1 (RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY) ZONE LOCATED AT 1550 BLUEBIRD CANYON DRIVE AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)," overturning the Design Review Board's denial of Coastal Development Permit 24-2588, approving Coastal Development Permit 24-2588 and Design Review 24-2586, and finding the approval of the Project exempt from CEQA, revised as presented at the hearing, with the added condition that the overall height of the structure is reduced by 4 feet, the Project shall comply with the requirements in the Alternative Materials and Methods of Construction prepared by Dudek for the Property and dated October 21, 2025, and the Project shall also comply with the requirements and conditions of approval set forth in the Fire Department plan review transmittal dated January 6, 2026, from Fire Marshall, Robert Montaghami, and Deputy Community Development Director and Building Official, Gabe Linares. -2-
Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 6, 2026 C. PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DENIAL OF A PROJECT SEEKING COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-2510 AND DESIGN REVIEW 24-2509 FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING WITH AN ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE R-1 (RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY) ZONE LOCATED AT 1560 BLUEBIRD CANYON DRIVE (LOT B) Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation on the appeal and responded to Councilmembers questions.
Public Testimony in Support of the Appeal: Morgan Gallagher, attorney for the applicant, explained the points of the appeal, specifically, the applicability of SB 450 and the Housing Accountability Act, asserting that the project meets all applicable objective standards.
Public Testimony in Opposition of the Appeal: Joe Cover, Eileen Slora, Pamela Adams, Susan Whitin, Harpal Sadhal, and William Horner spoke in opposition to the project.
Rebuttal: David Dynaes, applicant, further explained why the project should be approved.
Moved by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 5/0 to adopt Resolution #26.003 titled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, OVERTURNING THE DECISION OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD TO DENY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-2510 FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING WITH AN ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE R-1 (RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY) ZONE LOCATED AT 1560 BLUEBIRD CANYON DRIVE (LOT B) AND FINDING THE
PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)," overturning the Design Review Board's denial of Coastal Development Permit 24-2510, approving Coastal Development Permit 24-2510 and Design Review 24-2509, and finding the approval of the Project exempt from CEQA, revised as presented at the hearing, with added conditions of approval that the project is lowered by at least 10 inches, that the applicant work with City staff to minimize the visual impact of the retaining walls, and that the Project shall comply with the requirements in the Alternative Materials and Methods of Construction prepared by Dudek for the Property and dated October 21, 2025, and with the requirements and conditions of approval set forth in the Fire Department plan review transmittal dated January 6, 2026 from Fire Marshall, Robert Montaghami, and Deputy Community Development Director and Building Official, Gabe Linares. -3-
Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 6, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Orgill at 8:14 p.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2026, adjourned the Special City Council Meeting.
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Approved: January 27, 2026
Mila
Mark Orgill, Mayo
audit
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
Note: All components of minutes shall be for the primary purpose of memorializing decisions made by the legislative body. Any minute component that does not serve this primary purpose will be minimized or eliminated; this includes comments made by individual body members and members of the public. Discussions that occurred during the meeting can be viewed in archived video recordings on the city's website. Public submittals on items received prior to adjournment of the meeting are retained in the administrative record and can be viewed in the city clerk's repository.
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