Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .David A Kiff Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community
Development
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney
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STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
APPEAL
A
SUBJECT: 31565 EAGLE ROCK WAY: PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 2025-0407 FOR A NEW
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING, ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE, ELEVATED
DECK, GRADING, POOL, SPA, LANDSCAPING, HARDSCAPE, NEW
VEHICULAR ACCESS, PUBLIC STREET IMPROVEMENTS, AND
DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING STORAGE BUILDING, AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2025-0408 FOR A DETACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT IN THE VC, VILLAGE COMMUNITY ZONE, AND
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Open the public hearing, take public testimony, and continue the public hearing to the June 9, 2026, City Council Meeting; and
2. Find that the action to continue the public hearing is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
An appeal of the Design Review Board’s approval of Design Review 2025-0407 and Coastal Development Permit 2025-0408 was filed with the City Clerk on April 2, 2026. To continue the public hearing on the appeal without re-sending public hearing notices, staff requests that the City Council open the public hearing and continue the matter to June 9, 2026. Staff does not intend to provide a report at this time.
The sole purpose of this item is for City Council to take action on the requested continuance.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the recommended actions are exempt from CEQA per Section 15061(b)(3), which is the commonsense exemption that the CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 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, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The action on the determination of the appeal at the continued public hearing will include compliance with CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Continuance Request (Pg. 3)
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APPEAL OF THE APPROVAL OF DR 2025-0407 AND CDP 2025-0408 AT 31565 EAGLE ROCK WAY
May 26, 2026
Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: Gavin Curran, for Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Heather Steven, Senior Planner Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community Development
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1 Steven, Heather CD
From: Steven, Heather CD
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 1:47 PM
To: McKay, Ann Marie CC
Cc: Viera, Anthony CD; Abzug, Jane AO; Baldridge, Cheryl CC Subject: FW: City Council Appeal - 31565 Eagle Rock Way Hi Ann Marie, please see the continuance request for this project.
Thank you,
Heather Steven
Senior Planner | Community Development
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
p. (949) 497-0332 | [email protected]
From: steve kawaratani <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 1:37 PM
To: Steven, Heather CD <[email protected]>
Cc: Abzug, Jane AO <[email protected]>; Viera, Anthony CD <[email protected]>; McKay, Ann Marie CC <[email protected]>; Schneider, Matthew CD <[email protected]>; Rodrigues, Bill CD <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council Appeal - 31565 Eagle Rock Way
[NOTICE: This message originated outside of City of Laguna Beach -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.] Good afternoon, Heather,
The applicant team respectfully requests a continuance from May 26th to June 9, 2026.
I appreciate your consideration.
Best,
Steve
Attachment 1
3 3 of 3
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
APPEAL
B
SUBJECT: 855 LA VISTA DRIVE: PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 2026-0278 AND COASTAL
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2026-0279 FOR A NEW DETACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT, ELEVATED DECK, RETAINING WALLS EXCEEDING FIVE FEET IN EXPOSED HEIGHT, AND GRADING, AND VARIANCE 2026-0280 TO
ENCROACH INTO A SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED WATERCOURSE SETBACK
AREA, AND CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15303 (CLASS 3) AND 15305 (CLASS 5)
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Open the public hearing, take public testimony, and continue the public hearing to the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting; and
2. Find that the action to continue the public hearing is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
An appeal of the Design Review Board’s approval of Design Review 2026-0278, Coastal Development Permit 2026-0279 and Variance 2026-0280 was filed with the City Clerk on April 9, 2026. To continue the public hearing on the appeal without re-sending public hearing notices, staff requests that the City Council open the public hearing and continue the matter to June 23, 2026. Staff does not intend to provide a report at this time.
The sole purpose of this item is for City Council to take action on the requested continuance.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the recommended actions are exempt from CEQA per Section 15061(b)(3), which is the commonsense exemption that the CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 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, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The action on the determination of the appeal at the continued public hearing will include compliance with CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS
None
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APPEAL OF THE APPROVAL OF DESIGN REVIEW 2026-0278, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2026-0279, AND VARIANCE 2026-0280 AT 855 LA VISTA DRIVE May 26, 2026
Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: Gavin Curran, for Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Shehriyar Khan, Associate Planner Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community Development
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