Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 1 - July 11, 2024
MINUTES
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
REGULAR MEETING AND NOTICED HEARING
July 11, 2024
A regular noticed meeting of the Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board of the City of Laguna Beach, California, convened at 5:13 P.M. on July 11, 2024.
Meeting convened at a later time due to technical difficulties
Present: Jessica Gannon, Tom Gibbs, MJ Coveny, Louis Weil, Debbie Neev (Alternate)
Absent: Kristine Thalman
Staff Present: Wendy Jung, Daniel Latham, Kate Kazama, Garrett Wank, Shaveta Sharma, Ashley Rendon, Jane Abzug
1. CALLTO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - At this time, members of the public may address the Design Review Board regarding any items not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Design Review Board. No action may be taken on off-agenda items unless authorized by law. Comments shall be limited to two (2) minutes each and fifteen (15) minutes for all comments, unless extended for good cause by the Design Review Board.
3. MODIFICATION OF AGENDA ORDER
None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
4.1. MINUTES APPROVED
Approval of the minutes of the Design Review Board/Board of Adjustment meeting on June 13, 2024.
Public Testimony: None.
On Consent, Ms. Neev made a motion, seconded by Ms. Coveny, to approve the minutes of the Design Review Board/Board of Adjustment meeting on June 13, 2024. The motion carried, 4-0. Mr. Weil abstained.
Motion DN Second MC Action APPROVED
Gannon Y Coveny Y Neev _Y_ Gibbs Y Weil _ABSTAIN_
Attachment 17
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Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 11 - July 11, 2024 Staff Presentation: Associate Planner, Garrett Wank, summarized the staff report.
Project Representative: Mr. Hutcherson gave his statement to support the proposed project.
Public Testimony: None.
Rebuttal: None.
Board Questions: None.
Board Comments: Ms. Coveny stated the project is a modest change that meets design review criteria such as privacy, view equity, the project is neighborhood compatible, and kept design integrity of the neighborhood. Ms. Coveny supported the project.
Mr. Gibbs provided assessments and found the project met neighborhood compatibility, and it did not impact views or privacy. Mr. Gibbs stated the project is acceptable, and it improves the neighborhood.
Ms. Neev concurred with her colleagues by agreeing that the project is neighborhood compatible and included the variance can be justified by the size and location of the project. Ms. Neev supported the project and variance.
Mr. Weil concurred with his colleagues and provided findings that support the project’s characteristic being consistent with neighboring homes. Mr. Weil supported the project.
Ms. Gannon concurred with her colleague’s comments. Ms. Gannon supported staff’s recommendation for approval and findings.
Mr. Weil made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gannon, to adopt resolution 24-0769 to approve Design Review 24-0769 and Variance 24-0770, and to adopt the categorical exemption pursuant to CEQA.
Ms. Abzug provided the suggested modifications.
Mr. Weil amended the motion to include the Deputy City Attorney’s recommendations.
The motion carried, 4-0. Mr. Weil abstained.
Motion LW Second JG Action APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Gannon Y Coveny Y Neev Y Gibbs Y Weil ABSTAINED
5.7. 31526 VALIDO ROAD (ZHOU), APN 056-062-25 CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
DESIGN REVIEW 24-0658, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-0657, AND CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION 505
Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 12 - July 11, 2024 [Section 15303].
City Staff: Garrett Wank, Associate Planner (949) 464-6626 [email protected] Project Applicant: LCRA Architects, Architect (626) 449-9698 | [email protected] The applicant, LCRA Architects, requests Design Review 24-0658 and Coastal Development Permit 24-0657. The proposed project demolishing an existing singlefamily residence and construction of a new single-family residence, upper-level additions, elevated decks, grading, landscaping, tandem parking, and third covered parking space.
Disclosures: Ms. Coveny went to the site, met with Steve Kawaratani and left a message for the architect but did not receive a response. Ms. Coveny also met with neighbors: Mr. and Mrs. Leemon, the Boshnacks, the Chamberlains, and met with neighbors at 31532 West Street; Mr. Gibbs visited the site, met with Mr. Kawaratani, met with Sophia and Jeff Chamberlain, and met with Diana and Stan Leemon. Ms. Gannon was at the site visit with Ms. Coveny; Ms. Neev visited the site, met with the Chamberlains, met with Mr. and Mrs. Leemon, met with the Boshnacks, and met with Steve Kawaratani and with Mr.
Kawaratani’s assistance gained access to two neighbors homes and walked around the property; Mr. Weil spoke with Mr. Kawaratani, spoke with the applicant team over the phone, Mr. Weil walked the site and spoke with Diane Leemon over the phone.
Staff Presentation: Associate Planner, Garrett Wank, summarized the staff report.
Project Representative: Ms. Adele Chang presented the project.
Public Testimony: Mr. Kawaratani represented three adjacent neighbors. Mr. Kawaratani presented the neighbors’ concerns about the size of the home and privacy issues.
Mrs. Leemon presented her concerns of the project blocking views and privacy issues.
Mr. Chamberlain presented concerns of the project’s overall current plans.
Rebuttal: Ms. Chang addressed the concerns.
Board Questions: None.
Board Comments: Mr. Gibbs appreciated Ms. Chang’s comments. Mr. Gibbs addressed concerns of staking, mass and scale of the project, privacy issues, cooperating with neighbors to address concerns, suggested window locations for privacy, landscaping and provided articulation suggestions.
Ms. Coveny concurred with Mr. Gibbs’ comments. Ms. Coveny provided suggestions to the mass and scale of the home to help alleviate the neighbors‘ concerns and continued to provide suggestions to create privacy. Ms. Coveny provided suggestions for color consideration of the home.
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Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 13 - July 11, 2024 Ms. Neev believed in reducing the program overall and provided suggestions for privacy issues and concerns.
Mr. Weil appreciated Ms. Chang addressing the neighbors’ concerns. Mr. Weil provided suggestions for the design articulation that will help address view concerns pertaining to grading. Mr. Weil does not support tandem parking.
Ms. Gannon requested staking a specific area in order to visually see the proximity impact. Ms. Gannon suggested removal of the deck between bathrooms two and three.
Ms. Gannon provided feedback on the Juliet balcony.
Further discussion ensued pertaining to materials and articulation.
Mr. Weil made a motion, seconded by Ms. Neev, to continue Design Review 24-0658 and Coastal Development Permit 24-0657 to September 26, 2024. The motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
Motion LW Second DN Action CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 Gannon Y Coveny Y Neev Y Gibbs Y Weil Y
6. STAFF ANDBOARD REPORTS
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment at 7:35 p.m. to the regularly scheduled Design Review Board meeting on July 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
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