June 5, 2026
RE: Opposition to the Appeal of 31565 Eagle Rock Way – Design Review 2025-0407 and Coastal Development Permit 2025-0408
Dear Mayor Orgill and Council Members:
On behalf of property owner, David Davutoglu, I respectfully request that the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the Design Review Board's unanimous approval of 31565 Eagle Rock Way.
I appreciate the neighbors' participation throughout this process and their concerns regarding neighborhood compatibility, privacy, views and landscaping. These issues are important considerations in Laguna Beach and were carefully evaluated by the applicant team, City staff and the Design Review Board.
As detailed in the Staff Report, the Board first reviewed the project on October 23, 2025, and continued the application with direction to further address privacy, view equity, upper-level massing and glazing. In response, the architect reduced the upper-level floor area and height, reduced the upper-level terrace area and reduced glazing on both the north and south elevations.
At its March 26, 2026, hearing, the Board reviewed the revised plans, considered project staking and site observations, received testimony from neighboring property owners and approved the project by a 5-0 vote. During its deliberations, the Board specifically discussed privacy, view equity, neighborhood compatibility, landscaping and project massing before determining that all required Design Review findings could be made.
The appeal raises concerns regarding privacy, views, landscaping and whether additional meetings should have occurred between the Applicant and neighboring property owners. The applicant team focused on revising the project in response to Board direction and returning to the public hearing process, where all interested parties had the opportunity to review the revised design and provide testimony directly to the Board.
Most importantly, the record demonstrates that the Board carefully considered the issues raised by the appellants, reviewed revised plans and project staking, conducted site visits, required additional project-specific conditions and concluded that the project satisfied the City's design guidelines.
Staff notes, as the project was approved by a 5-0 vote, the Council's review may be limited to determining whether the Board proceeded in the manner required by law and whether substantial evidence supports its decision. The appeal identifies no procedural error, nor does it demonstrate that the Board abused its discretion. Rather, it seeks reconsideration of design issues that were thoroughly evaluated during the public review process.
The Staff Report concludes that the Board proceeded in the manner required by law, gave due consideration to privacy and view concerns and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence. Staff therefore recommends that the City Council deny the appeal and support the approval.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the Design Review Board's approval of Design Review 2025-0407 and Coastal Development Permit 2025-0408.
Sincerely,
Steve Kawaratani
Applicant Representative