RESOLUTION NO. 26.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT 25-2345 AND LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM
AMENDMENT 25-2369, AMENDING THE CITY’S OPEN SPACE
AND CONSERVATION ELEMENT TO REMOVE A DESIGNATED
SIGNIFICANT NATURAL WATERCOURSE FROM THE MAJOR
WATERSHEDS AND DRAINAGE COURSES MAP LOCATED AT
AND AROUND 600 BUENA VISTA WAY; REQUESTING SUCH
LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT CERTIFICATION
BY THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION; AND FINDING
THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3)
WHEREAS, State law requires the City of Laguna Beach (“City”) to adopt and maintain a general plan that contains certain mandatory elements, describes the City’s long-term goals, and develops policies and programs to achieve those goals; and WHEREAS, two of the mandatory elements of a general plan is the open space element and conservation element, pursuant to Government Code section 65302(d) and Government Code Section 65560; and
WHEREAS, the Open Space and Conservation Element and Title 25 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code (“LBMC”) are both components of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program under the California Coastal Act; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2025, an application was filed by the owner of property located at 600 Buena Vista Way (“Applicant”) requesting an amendment to the City’s Open Space and Conservation Element and specifically the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses Map to delete a mapped significant natural watercourse at and around 600 Buena Vista Way in the R/HP (Residential Hillside Protection) zone (the “Project”); and WHEREAS, pursuant to LBMC Section 25.50.030(B), a proposal to delete a significant water course must be reviewed by the Planning Commission, after notice in accordance with Attachment 1
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LBMC Sections 25.05.065 and 25.07.026, and can only be accomplished if it is determined that the significant watercourse no longer serves a distinct functional, scenic, or ecological purpose; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to LBMC Section 25.50.030(A)(1), ecological purposes include those related to wildlife habitats, particularly feeding, watering, and breeding areas, and biotic habitat areas; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to LBMC Section 25.50.030(A)(1), scenic purposes include those related to view corridors, density relief, or general aesthetic appeal; and WHEREAS, pursuant to LBMC Section 25.50.030(A)(1), functional purposes include those related to hydrologic considerations; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on whether the proposed deletion of the mapped significant watercourse met the required findings pursuant to LBMC Section 50.50.030(B) and (A)(1); and WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, the Planning Commission also held a duly noticed public hearing on General Plan Amendment 25-2345 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 25-2369, amending the City’s Open Space and Conservation Element to delete a designated significant natural watercourse located at and around 600 Buena Vista Way and specifically the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses map; and
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2026, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve General Plan Amendment 25- 2345 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 25-2369, and the testimony and evidence presented to the City Council at the public hearing on the General Plan Amendment 25-2345 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 25-2369; and
WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have been satisfied.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES RESOLVE:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein.
SECTION 2. The City Council makes the following findings with regard to the amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element of the City’s General Plan as provided in Government Code Section 65350 et seq.:
A. The Planning Commission has held at least one public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element and has recommended action on the Open Space and Conservation Element through the adoption of Resolution No. 25-2345 in accordance with Government Code Section 65353.
B. The City Council has held at least one public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element and is taking action on the proposed amendment through adoption of this Resolution in accordance with Government Code Section 65356(a).
C. The amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element is consistent with other elements of the City’s General Plan (Government Code Section 65300.5), including but not limited to:
i. Land Use Element: The proposed amendment is consistent with the following General Plan policies in that the amendment would not induce growth on the City’s hillside open space lands. In addition, removing this mapped feature from the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses map would not change the City’s requirement to provide dedicated open space over the area currently shown as a mapped watercourse.
Policy 7.1 Protect dedicated and accepted open space.
ii. Open Space and Conservation Element: The proposed amendment is consistent 12 -4- Reso. #26.XXX
with the following General Plan policies in that the amendment would not induce growth on the City’s hillside open space lands, would not affect recreational opportunities, and would not interfere with public views of undeveloped hillsides. In addition, removing this mapped feature from the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses map would not change the City’s requirement to provide dedicated open space over the area currently shown as a mapped watercourse.
Policy 6-H Preserve a continuous open space corridor within the hillsides in order to preserve natural resources and recreational opportunities.
SECTION 3. The City Council makes the following findings with regard to the amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element, which is part of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program, pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section 25.07.026:
A. The Planning Commission has held at least one public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element, which is part of the City’s Local Coastal Program, and has recommended action on the Open Space and Conservation Element through the adoption of Resolution No. 25-2345 in accordance with LBMC Section 25.07.026(B).
B. The City Council has held at least one public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element and will take action on the proposed amendment through adoption of this Resolution in accordance with LBMC Section 25.07.026(C).
C. The amendment to the Open Space and Conservation Element is consistent with the remainder of the City’s Local Coastal Program for the following reasons:
i. Coastal Land Use Plan Technical Appendix. This LCPA is consistent with all applicable provisions of the City of Laguna Beach Coastal Land Use Plan Technical Appendix, as incorporated in the certified Local Coastal Program (“LCP”). The Technical Appendix, adopted as a component of the LCP, provides background data, resource inventories, mapping, and technical standards that 13 -5- Reso. #26.XXX
support the policies of the certified Coastal Land Use Plan and related elements of the General Plan (e.g., Open Space/Conservation Element, Land Use Element, and Landscape and Scenic Highways Element), and guides implementation of the City’s coastal policies. The proposed LCPA does not alter, degrade, or conflict with these underlying resource definitions, technical standards, or mapped resource areas. The proposed amendment maintains and reinforces LCP standards addressing resource protection, including those related to biological and geological constraints identified in the Technical Appendix. An amendment that is internally consistent with the certified Land Use Plan and Implementation Plan is therefore consistent with the Technical Appendix.
ii. Land Use Element. This LCPA is consistent with the following Land Use Element policies in that the amendment would not induce growth on the City’s hillside open space lands. The deletion of the watercourse from the property will not induce development as that area of the property is dedicated open space as a condition of approval in the entitlements for development of the property.
Policy 7.1 Protect dedicated and accepted open space.
SECTION 4. The Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), which provides that an activity is covered by the common sense exemption under CEQA where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and therefore the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here, the Project is limited to an update to the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses Map in City’s Open Space and Conservation Element as the significant natural watercourse no longer serves a distinct functional, scenic or ecological purpose. Further, none of the exceptions outlined in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply. The project site does not contain any environmentally sensitive areas in that the site is fully developed with an existing residential use, is surrounded on all sides by public streets and developed properties. While the City’s environmentally sensitive areas maps 14 -6- Reso. #26.XXX
do indicate that an earthquake fault exists on the project site, the proposed project involves no physical change and therefore, has no potential to result in a significant effect on the environment.
Additionally, the deletion of the watercourse from the property will not induce development on the property as this area of the property is restricted as dedicated open space under the original project entitlements. There will be no cumulative impact resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time, as the current request is limited in nature to the watercourse mapped through the property. There are no unusual circumstances resulting in a significant impact on the environment. There will be no damage to scenic resources, including trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. The Project is not located on a hazardous waste site or any other site included on a list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5. The Project will not result in significant adverse impacts to historical resources as defined by CEQA because there are no historic resources on the subject property and none in the Project vicinity that would be impacted by the proposed improvements. As the Project has no potential to cause a significant environmental effect, the exemption applies and no further environmental analysis is required under CEQA.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby approves General Plan Amendment 25-2345 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 25-2369 to amend the Open Space and Conservation Element and specifically the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses Map to delete a mapped significant natural watercourse at and around 600 Buena Vista Way in the R/HP (Residential Hillside Protection) zone as reflected in Exhibit A-1, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and repealing and replacing the Major Watersheds and Drainage Courses Map with the map in Exhibit A-2, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, subject to the following conditions of approval:
A. General Plan Amendment 25-2345 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 25- 15 -7- Reso. #26.XXX
2369 shall not become operative and effective unless and until the California Coastal Commission and the City take all actions necessary to finally certify Local Coastal Program Amendment 25- 2369.
B. Applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Laguna Beach and its officers, employees, and agents from and against any claim, action, or proceeding against the City of Laguna Beach, its officers, employees, or agents to attack, set aside, void, or annul any approval or condition of approval of the City of Laguna Beach concerning this Project, including but not limited to any approval or condition of approval of the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Community Development Director, or City Planner relating to the Project, including the City’s significant watercourse deletion process and findings under Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section
25.50.030. The City shall promptly notify the Applicant of any claim, action, or proceeding concerning the Project and the City shall cooperate fully in the defense of the matter. The City reserves the right, at its own option, to choose its own attorney to represent the City, its officers, employees, and agents in the defense of the matter.
SECTION 6. The City Council hereby requests that the California Coastal Commission consider, approve, and certify LCP Amendment 25-2369 to amend the Open Space and Conservation Element, as further set forth in Exhibits “A-1 and A-2” attached to this Resolution and incorporated herein by this reference, in accordance with LBMC Section 25.07.026(E). The City Council hereby acknowledges that, if the California Coastal Commission certifies the amendment without any suggested modifications, the amendment is effective immediately pursuant to 14 CCR Section 13544(b). If the California Coastal Commission conditionally certifies the amendment with suggested modifications, however, the amendment is effective upon the City’s acknowledgment of receipt of the California Coastal Commission’s action, the City’s acceptance and agreement to any such terms and modifications, and the City’s final action to satisfy the terms and modifications pursuant to 14 CCR Section 13544(c). 16 -8- Reso. #26.XXX
SECTION 7. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which this Resolution has been based are located at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue Laguna Beach, CA 92651. The custodian of the record of proceedings is the Director of Community Development.
ADOPTED this 14th day of April, 2026.
Mark Orgill, 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. 26.XXX was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on April 14, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, California
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Exhibit A-1
Amendment to Major Watersheds & Drainage Course Map
Locator Map:
Existing Proposed
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Exhibit A-2
Major Watersheds & Drainage Course Map as amended by GPA 25-2345 / LCPA 25-2369 19