SUPPLEMENTAL
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
August 4, 2026
NON APPEAL
15 SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THREE FIREFIGHTER ACCESS EASEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 1550 AND 1560 BLUEBIRD CANYON
DRIVE AND FIND SUCH ACQUISITION CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65402; AND FINDING THAT NO
FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303
REVISED RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Accept three easements for firefighter access at 1550 and 1560 Bluebird Canyon Drive and authorize the City Manager to execute the easements, in a form approved by the City Attorney, and authorize the City Clerk to record the easements on behalf of the City; and
2. Find that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Section 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines or, in the alternative, is not a project within the meaning of CEQA under Section 15061 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
Government Code Section 65402 provides that no real property shall be acquired by dedication or otherwise for street, square, park, or other public purposes until the location, purpose, and extent of such acquisition have been submitted to and reported upon by the planning agency as to conformity with the adopted general plan.
Following the posting of this agenda item, City staff confirmed that Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section
2.20.060 assigns the Planning Commission as the "Planning Agency" for the City for purposes of the Government Code Section 65402 finding.
City staff also confirmed that Government Code Section 65402 does not require the City to make a finding of general plan consistency for the at-issue fire safety access easements because such easements do not allow public access like a street, square, or park. Rather, the fire safety access easements require the private property owners to keep the easements clear and provide the Fire Department rights of access in the case of emergency to fight fires, which are rights already afforded to the Fire Department in the case of a fire emergency.
Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .Click or tap here to enter text.
Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANTS OF EASEMENTS FOR 1550 AND 1560 BLUEBIRD CANYON DRIVE
August 4, 2026
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Shehriyar Khan, Associate Planner Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community Development
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney