RESOLUTION NO. 26.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPEAL, UPHOLDING THE DESIGN
REVIEW BOARD’S APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 25-1883
FOR DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING,
NEW TWO-CAR GARAGE, VEHICULAR ACCESS,
SKYLIGHTS, GRADING, AND LANDSCAPING, COASTAL
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-1884 FOR NON-EXEMPT
DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL ZONE, AND REVOCABLE
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 25-1885 FOR A WALKWAY
WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, SUBJECT TO
IMPOSING A MORE RESTRICTIVE CONDITION OF
APPROVAL, AT 30801 DRIFTWOOD DRIVE LOCATED IN THE
R-1, RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE, AND FINDING THE
ACTION CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
GUIDELINES SECTION 15303
WHEREAS, the property owner, Amir and Susan Loloi (“Applicant”), of 30801 Driftwood Drive (the “Property”), applied for Design Review (“DR”) 25-1883 for demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new single-family dwelling, two-car garage, vehicular access, skylights, grading, and landscaping, Coastal Development Permit (“CDP”) 25-1884 for such non-exempt development in the coastal zone, and Revocable Encroachment Permit 25-1885 for a walkway within the public right-of-way in the R-1 (Residential Low Density) zone pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code (“LBMC”) Section 25.05.040, Section 25.07.004, and Section 11.50.030 (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2025, the Design Review Board (“Board”) held a duly noticed public hearing and considered the Project. After receiving input from staff, the Applicant, and public comments, the Board discussed the Project and adopted Board Resolution No. 25-1883, -2- Reso. #
by a 5-0 vote, conditionally approving the Project, and finding the Project categorically exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15303 (the “Board Approval”); and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2025, Joyce and Henry Brodt and Anthony and Roberta Speranzo (“Appellants”) of 21562 Ocean Vista Drive and 30782 Driftwood Drive, respectively, filed an appeal of the Board Approval (“Appeal”); and
WHEREAS, public notice was duly provided to consider the Appeal of the Project at the January 27, 2026 City Council meeting in accordance with LBMC Section 25.05.065; and WHEREAS, on January 27, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing on the Appeal and continued the hearing to the April 28, 2026 City Council meeting; and WHEREAS, on April 21, 2026, the City posted the staff report and related attachments in anticipation of the April 28, 2026 City Council public hearing on the Appeal; and WHEREAS, on April 27, 2026, the City learned from representatives of both the Applicant and Appellant that the Applicant and Appellant agreed to the following condition of approval to resolve the pending Appeal: a 12 inch reduction in height of the two rear modules (A and B) and a six inch height reduction in the two front modules (C and D); and WHEREAS, pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section 25.05.070(D)(1), an appeal may be withdrawn only upon majority vote of the City Council; and WHEREAS, on April 28, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing on the Appeal and carefully considered the oral and documentary evidence and arguments presented.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES RESOLVE:
SECTION 1. The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated into -3- Reso. #
this Resolution by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby authorizes the withdrawal of the Appeal.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby upholds the Design Review Board’s determination on the Project, as reflected in Board Resolution No. 25-1883, including all conditions attached thereto, which such Resolution and conditions are incorporated herein by this reference, subject to the following more restrictive condition of approval: prior to the issuance of a building permit, the plans shall be modified to show a 12-inch reduction in height of the two rear modules (A and B) and a six-inch height reduction in the two front modules (C and D).
SECTION 4. By virtue of this action, the Appellant has effectively not filed an appeal of the November 13, 2025 Design Review Board decision.
SECTION 5. This City Council action is the City’s final decision on DR 25-1883, CDP 25-1884, and REP 25-1885.
SECTION 6. Based on its review of the entire record before it, the City Council hereby finds and determines, in accordance with CEQA, that the Project is categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, in that the project consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small structures.
Examples of projects that qualify for a Class 3 exemption under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 include one single-family residence, or a second dwelling unit in a residential zone. In urbanized areas, up to three single-family residences may be constructed or converted under this exemption. This project fits within the Class 3 exemption because it is construction of a singlefamily dwelling on an existing legal building site and no structures are proposed within any open space overlay or environmentally sensitive area.
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Further, none of the exceptions outlined in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
As indicated above, the Project site does not contain any environmentally sensitive areas in that the site is fully developed with an existing single-family residence and is adjacent to developed residential properties and streets. The City’s environmentally sensitive area maps do not identify any such areas on-site or within the immediate Project vicinity, and there are no mapped watercourses on the subject site. There will be no cumulative impact resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place over time in that the Project proposes to replace the existing single-family dwelling with a new single-family dwelling that will similarly maintain a single-story building height. There are no unusual circumstances resulting in a significant impact on the environment in that there are no historic resources or heritage trees on the site, or any other unusual circumstances with regards to the Project site. 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 in that the Project would not impact trees, there are no historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources on the site, and the closest officially designated state scenic highway is located near Anaheim1 and therefore the Project will not result in damage to scenic resources within or near such 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 in that there is no historic resource on the site or immediately adjacent to the site. Consequently, additional environmental analysis is not necessary to meet the requirements of the CEQA. The City Council hereby directs staff to cause a notice of exemption 1 https://caltrans.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=465dfd3d807c46cc8e8057116f1aacaa -5- Reso. #
to be filed with the County Clerk and the Office of Planning and Research within five working days of the adoption of this Resolution.
ADOPTED this 28th 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 28, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, California