STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
NON APPEAL
18 SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND
EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Continue to conduct the Public Hearing that was opened at the May 12, 2026, City Council meeting, 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
On May 12, 2026, in furtherance of the City’s Housing Element goals and to address broader concerns regarding delays and the pace of project approvals, the City Council considered the first reading of the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance and the Efficiency Ordinance. At that meeting, the City Council also provided direction to staff as to a proposed policy regarding concept review for certain capital improvement program projects. The public hearing was continued to May 26, 2026, to allow staff additional time to contact certain neighborhood associations concerning the zone-specific design criteria proposed for removal or modification in Title 25 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code (Zoning).
City staff has since initiated outreach efforts. As a preliminary matter, the Three Arch Bay Association has indicated that the proposed changes would need to be reviewed by its Board of Directors. Because the Association’s next Board meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2026, and in light of the Council’s direction to engage with affected neighborhood associations, staff believes the most appropriate course is to keep the public hearing open and continue the matter to June 23, 2026. Staff does not intend to provide a staff 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. Here, since the recommended action is merely to continue the public hearing, it can be seen with certainty that there is no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
FIRST READING OF DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND EFFICIENCY
ORDINANCE
May 26, 2026
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