STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
STUDY SESSION
1 SUBJECT: JOINT STUDY SESSION TO CONSIDER OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
FOR SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board:
1. Receive a presentation and recommendations from City consultant JKA regarding the first public review draft of the proposed “phase two” single- and two-family residential objective design standards, receive public input, and provide direction as appropriate.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The City is continuing preparation of Objective Design Standards (“ODS”) for single- and two-family residential development as part of the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update (“CZCU”). The ODS program is intended to establish clear, objective, and legally defensible design standards that comply with recent State housing laws while maintaining Laguna Beach’s unique architectural character and neighborhood compatibility.
The ODS program is being developed in two phases. Phase One focuses on objective form and massing standards, including height and setback requirements, and is incorporated into the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance, which was last reviewed by the City Council on May 12, 2026. Phase Two expands upon the basic form and massing standards to include objective architectural character and style standards for single- and two-family residential development. This phased approach was developed in the community interest to hasten the implementation of ODS in response to State housing laws that preempt the City’s ability to impose subjective design criteria on certain qualifying housing projects.
This Joint Study Session is intended to provide the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board with an update on the Phase Two ODS effort and obtain feedback on the evolving draft standards and document framework. Since the prior study session1, JKA prepared the first public review draft of the Phase Two ODS document, including preliminary architectural style standards, illustrative examples, and organizational concepts. (Attachment 1.) Additional efforts will continue through 2026, with two public hearings anticipated in summer 2026 prior to final adoption of the Phase Two ODS.
DISCUSSION
Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
On October 8, 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to De Novo Planning Group for preparation of the CZCU, a key initiative identified through the City’s 2022 Strategic Planning and Goal Setting Workshop and reaffirmed during the 2024 Annual Planning Workshop. On July 22, 2025, the City Council approved a contract amendment expanding the scope of work to prioritize preparation of Objective Design Standards (“ODS”) for single- and two-family residential projects, as well as updated parking standards. De Novo 1 November 19, 2025 Planning Commission and Design Review Board Joint Study Session (Development of objective design standards for single- and two-family residential projects.) JOINT STUDY SESSION - OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWOFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS May 26, 2026
Planning Group subcontracted with JKA to develop the ODS for single- and two-family residential projects and Kittelson for updated parking standards.
Since initiation of the project, De Novo Planning Group and its subcontractors, JKA and Kittelson, have undertaken a range of project activities including staff coordination meetings, background research, site visits, parking occupancy data collection, preparation of outreach materials, development of project branding, and coordination with the CZCU Ad Hoc Committee (the “Ad Hoc Committee”), consisting of Mayor Orgill and Councilmember Whalen.
Need for Objective Design Standards
In recent years, the State of California has enacted legislation intended to increase housing production and reduce barriers to residential development. These laws limit the ability of local agencies to rely upon subjective design criteria when reviewing qualifying housing projects and instead require the use of objective design standards that are uniformly verifiable and measurable.
Objective design standards are defined by California Government Code Section 65913.4 as standards that “involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official prior to submittal.” Because portions of the City’s existing design review framework rely on subjective findings, the City is developing ODS to preserve local design oversight while ensuring compliance with State law. The standards are intended to maintain compatibility with Laguna Beach’s established architectural character and neighborhood context while creating a clear and legally defensible review process for future residential development.
Without adoption of objective standards, the City’s ability to influence the design and compatibility of future residential projects may be substantially limited under State housing law.
Prior Consideration
On November 19, 2025, the Planning Commission and Design Review Board held a Joint Study Session to receive a presentation from JKA on their existing conditions report and preliminary recommendations for the architectural styles that would be included in the Phase Two ODS. (The November 19, 2025 Staff Report, JKA Existing Conditions Report, and Minutes are attached as Attachments 2-4, respectively.) On April 21, 2026, City staff and the consultant team met with a small group of local design professionals and the Ad Hoc Committee to review JKA’s administrative draft of the Phase Two ODS and gather early feedback regarding the proposed standards and document organization. The meeting was an important milestone in the process and helped identify potential refinements to improve clarity, usability, visual presentation, and overall effectiveness of the standards prior to preparation of the first public review draft.
The public review draft attached to this report includes graphics, architectural illustrations, visual examples, and publication-ready formatting intended to make the document more user-friendly and accessible for applicants, property owners, City staff, decision-makers, and the general public.
JOINT STUDY SESSION - OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWOFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS May 26, 2026
Two-Phase Approach to Objective Design Standards
The ODS program is being prepared in two phases:
Phase One focuses on objective form and massing standards, including building height, setbacks, and envelope requirements utilizing a “box inside a box” approach3. As currently proposed, projects utilizing these streamlined standards without discretionary design review would be limited to single-story structures not exceeding 15 feet in height and subject to increased setbacks beyond the minimum requirements of the underlying zoning district. Phase One does not address architectural styles or detailed design elements and is intended to facilitate timely implementation of foundational objective standards.
Phase Two expands the ODS program to address architectural character and style standards for single- and two-family residential development. The standards are intended to be highly illustrated, user-friendly, and supported by form-group architectural style guidance and visual examples. They include standards related to architectural detailing to ensure housing projects make positive contributions to the aesthetics of a neighborhood4 and massing design standards to avoid box-like forms and promote 360-degree design5.
They also include objective standards related to entryways and lighting to prioritize the orientation of buildings toward public streets and promote safety through exterior lighting while minimizing the potential for light and glare impacts.
Purpose of the Joint Study Session
The purpose of this Joint Study Session with the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board is to discuss the first public review draft of the Phase Two ODS for single- and two-family residential development. JKA will present a project update including a summary of prior outreach and how that outreach informed the development of the Phase Two ODS, and provide an overview of the first public review draft of the ODS document. A copy of the public review draft is also attached to this staff report for review prior to the Joint Study Session. (Attachment 1.) Staff respectfully requests that all meeting attendees, including community members with an interest in this project, prepare for the discussion by reviewing the document prior to the meeting. The Joint Study Session is intended to obtain additional feedback and direction from the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, and community prior to preparing the final ODS document for potential adoption.
NEXT STEPS
Based on feedback received during this Joint Study Session, JKA will continue refining the Phase Two ODS and prepare a final ODS document for formal consideration and adoption. Two public hearings are 3 The “box inside a box” concept will provide objective design standards that allow a certain form of development. Still, an applicant will have the option to pursue discretionary design review should the applicant want to exceed such allowed form of development. The Phase One ODS have now been drafted and presented to the City Council for a first reading of the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance and Efficiency Ordinance on May 12, 2026. The ordinance was continued to May 26, 2026, for a first reading, in order to allow staff sufficient time to contact certain neighborhood associations regarding the zone-specific design criteria applicable to Three Arch Bay, Residential/Hillside Protection, South Laguna Village Commercial, etc. 4 For example, requirements for the design of window muntins, mullions, and sticking to frame and divide panes of glass. 5 For example, straight and continuous building walls cannot exceed a 30-foot length without a horizontal offset.
JOINT STUDY SESSION - OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWOFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS May 26, 2026
anticipated in summer 2026 to present the proposed ODS, receive public testimony, and consider final adoption of the standards.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The development of the ODS is consistent with the City Council’s strategic goals and priorities related to implementation of the CZCU, preservation of neighborhood character, and compliance with evolving State housing laws. The project supports the City Council’s direction to modernize the City’s development regulations while maintaining Laguna Beach’s distinct architectural identity and community character.
The ODS effort also advances the City Council priorities related to improving government efficiency, providing clear and predictable development standards, increasing transparency in the development review process, and ensuring the City maintains local design oversight through objective and legally defensible regulations. The ongoing public outreach process, including meetings with the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, design professionals, and the Ad Hoc Committee, further supports the City Council’s commitment to inclusive public engagement and thoughtful long-range planning.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 because it consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. The recommended action is strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. Here, the recommended action meets the exemption because the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board are providing direction on research, analysis, and preliminary recommendations related to the development of single- and two-family residential ODS, which are informational and planning activities that will not result in any physical changes to the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Single- and Two- Family Objective Design Standards (First Public Review Draft) (Pgs. 6-72)
2. November 19, 2025 PC and DRB Joint Study Session Staff Report (Pgs. 73-76)
3. November 19, 2025 Existing Conditions Report (Pgs. 77-120)
4. November 19, 2025 PC and DRB Joint Study Session Minutes (Pgs. 121-125) Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .David A Kiff Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
JOINT STUDY SESSION - OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SINGLE- AND TWOFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS May 26, 2026
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Wendy Jung, Principal Planner Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community
Development