NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
The Laguna Beach City Council will hold an in-person Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers, located in City Hall at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, to consider:
Appeal of approval of Design Review 2026-0278, Coastal Development Permit 2026-0279, Variance 2026-0280, and CEQA Categorical Exemption for a detached accessory dwelling unit (“ADU”) with an elevated deck, grading, air conditioning unit, and associated retaining walls at 855 La Vista Drive in the R-1 zone. Design review is required for the proposed deck, which exceeds three feet in height above adjacent grade, grading in excess of 20 cubic yards outside the building footprint, and for retaining walls exceeding five feet in exposed height. A Coastal Development Permit is required for development of an ADU within the coastal zone. A Variance is required for encroachment of the ADU and associated improvements into the setback of a significantly modified watercourse.
Related Project Cases on the property include but are not limited to: LLA-2023-2191, CDP-2024-0151.
Applicant: Gregg Abel
A person has appealed the decision of the Design Review Board (DRB) to approve the project.
SAID PUBLIC MEETING to be held Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter.
For additional information, contact City staff: Shehriyar Khan, Associate Planner (949) 715-0675 or [email protected].
Comments may be made in writing prior to the hearing (when emailed or mailed to the City Clerk’s office) or in-person in Council Chambers during the public hearing. In order to allow sufficient time for members of the City Council and staff to review and consider your comments, written comments will be accepted for consideration up until the close of business (i.e., 5:30 p.m.) on the business day before the date on which this public hearing is scheduled; however, it is recommended they be submitted to the City Clerk’s office on or before 5:00 p.m. five days prior to the scheduled hearing.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65009(b), if you challenge this application in court, the issues raised shall be limited to those raised in the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Laguna Beach prior to, or at, the public hearing.
CEQA: This project qualifies for a categorical exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Section 15303 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, and Section 15305 – Minor Alteration in Land Use limitations.
COASTAL: The project is located within a non-appealable area of the Coastal Zone. A Coastal Development Permit is requested to authorize development of an accessory dwelling unit pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code (“LBMC”) Chapter 25.17.010(d)(1)(B)(iii).
The project is proposed as non-appealable development. The application was filed on December 21, 2022 by Gregg Abel and is assigned application number CDP-2026-0279. The application was approved by the Design Review Board. The decision by the Design Review Board is appealable to the City Council upon the payment of $2500 and in accordance with Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section 25.05.070. The decision by the City Council is not appealable to the California Coastal Commission.
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disability-related modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or accommodation from the City Clerk’s Office at (949) 497-0705 (telephone) or (949) 497-0771 (facsimile). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting.
Notice posted 10 days prior to hearing date at the following three public places (CA Government Code Section 65090 and 65091):
855 La Vista Drive, Laguna Beach, CA; 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA; and 380 3rd St., Laguna Beach, CA; and Property Owners within 300 ft./ Tenants within 100 ft./ California Coastal Commission /Interested Persons List / Publish Date: 05/15/2026 Attachment 3
114