STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
June 23, 2026
NON APPEAL
27 SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND
EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND RELATED ACTIONS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Waive full reading and introduce by title only an Ordinance titled, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ITS LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AND MUNICIPAL CODE TO MODIFY TITLE 25 (ZONING), TITLE 21 (SUBDIVISIONS), AND TITLE 22 (EXCAVATING, GRADING, AND FILLING) TO STREAMLINE THE DESIGN REVIEW AND OTHER PERMIT PROCESSES; AND FINDING
SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301;
2. Waive full reading and introduce by title only an Ordinance titled, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ITS MUNICIPAL CODE TO MODIFY CHAPTER 7.25 (NOISE), 12.08 (PRESERVATION OF HERITAGE TREES), 12.16 (VIEW PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION), AND 17.50 (PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS) TO IMPROVE CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE CODE; AND
FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301”;
3. Direct staff to incorporate the proposed draft changes to the Sarah Thurston Park Specific Plan into the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update;
4. Direct staff to return with the Ordinances, identified in recommendations 1 and 2, above, for a second reading and adoption at the July 21, 2026, City Council meeting;
5. Direct City staff to present an urgency version of the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance at the July 21, 2026, City Council meeting;
6. Direct City staff to return with a proposed City Council resolution with revisions to the Design Guidelines – A Guide to Residential Development that are consistent with the revisions to the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance; and
7. Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and in the alternative is statutorily exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
Following publication of the staff report, staff received comments and concerns from residents regarding the proposed amendments to the Sarah Thurston Park Specific Plan (the “Specific Plan”). The Specific Plan consists of the Sarah Thurston Specific Plan text (70-page PDF document), which is available on the City’s website, and Chapter 25.39 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code. Staff had proposed amendments to both components primarily to eliminate inconsistencies between them.
FIRST READING OF DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND EFFICIENCY
ORDINANCE
June 23, 2026
Based on subsequent discussions with residents, however, staff has determined that there would be value in conducting a more comprehensive review of the Specific Plan as part of the broader Comprehensive Zoning Code Update. This approach would also provide an opportunity for more focused engagement between City staff and Sarah Thurston Park residents during that process.
Accordingly, the staff recommendation has been revised to remove the proposed adoption of a resolution amending the separate 70-page Specific Plan document. In its place, staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to evaluate potential changes to the Specific Plan through the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update process. Staff has also revised the DR Efficiency Ordinance to delete the proposed amendments to Sections 25.39.010, 25.39.050, and 25.39.100 of Chapter 25.39 (Sarah Thurston Park) of Title 25 (Zoning).
The revised DR Efficiency Ordinance, which strikes the proposed changes related to the Specific Plan, and the Efficiency Ordinance, which remains unchanged, are included as Attachments 1 and 2, respectively, and correspond to Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2 in this supplemental staff report.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 because it consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the recommended action meets the exemption because the City is amending its codes to improve procedural efficiencies and to comply with state law. The City is not authorizing new uses that are not already established within the City through this ordinance. Furthermore, and as an alternative, under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15265, CEQA does not apply to activities and approvals pursuant to the Coastal Act necessary for the preparation and adoption of a local coastal program because the Coastal Commission’s LCP review and approval procedures have been found to be functionally equivalent to the environmental review process. Therefore, the recommended actions amending the City’s local coastal program is statutorily exempt from CEQA. Upon taking the recommended action, city staff will cause to be filed within five calendar days a notice of exemption with the county and state clearinghouse.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Revised Design Review Efficiency Ordinance (Pgs. 5-80)
2. Efficiency Ordinance (Pgs. 81-86)
Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .David A Kiff Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
FIRST READING OF DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND EFFICIENCY
ORDINANCE
June 23, 2026
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community
Development
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney