STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
September 22, 2026
CONSENT
CALENDAR
20 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY’S INTENT TO
IMPLEMENT THE DESIGN REVIEW EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND
AMENDED DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES IN FULL CONFORMITY WITH
THE COASTAL ACT, AND FINDING THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, FINDING THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1730, WHICH
STREAMLINES THE DESIGN REVIEW AND OTHER PERMIT PROCESSES, AND CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 26.059, WHICH AMENDS THE DESIGN GUIDELINES – A
GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CERTIFIED LAGUNA BEACH COASTAL LAND USE PLAN AND CHAPTER 6 OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT, AFFIRMING THE CITY’S INTENT TO IMPLEMENT ITS CERTIFIED
LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM IN A MANNER FULLY IN CONFORMITY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT, AND FINDING THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301 OR ALTERNATIVELY 15265”, affirming the City’s intent to implement the certified LCP in full conformity with the Coastal Act, satisfying the requirements of Public Resources Code section 30510, subdivision (a);
2. Direct the Director of Community Development to submit the Resolution affirming the City’s intent to implement the certified LCP in a manner fully in conformity with the Coastal Act, together with any appropriate supporting materials, to the California Coastal Commission; and
3. Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
On July 21, 2026, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1730, known as the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance, and Resolution No. 26.059 amending the Design Guidelines – A Guide to Residential Development, to streamline the design review and related permitting processes and directed City staff to submit the local coastal program (“LCP”) amendment to the California Coastal Commission for review.
The Council also adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1732, an urgency version of the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance, to implement the new provisions while the California Coastal Commission reviews the associated LCP amendment. On August 4, 2026, the Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1733, extending Urgency Ordinance No. 1732 for 22 months and 15 days.
DR EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND AMENDED DR GUIDELINES: COASTAL ACT
CONFORMITY
September 22, 2026
The Coastal Commission subsequently determined that the City’s LCP amendment submittal was incomplete because the City did not transmit the LCP amendment through a resolution but rather through an ordinance and resolution and the City did explicitly find that it would implement its certified LCP in DR EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND AMENDED DR GUIDELINES: COASTAL ACT
CONFORMITY
September 22, 2026
conformity with the Coastal Act. The proposed resolution attached as Attachment 1 attaches the ordinance and resolution as exhibits to a resolution so that a resolution can be submitted to the California Coastal Commission for review and provides the required certification—all without modifying the previously adopted DR Efficiency Ordinance and Resolution amending the Design Guidelines – A Guide to Residential Development.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
On July 21, 2026, the City Council found that the project consisting of adoption of Ordinance No. 1730, which amended Titles 21, 22, and 25 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, and Resolution No. 26.059, which amended the Design Guidelines, and adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 1732 (the “Project”) was categorically exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines section 15301. That exemption applies to 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. As a separate and independent basis, the City Council also found that the Project was statutorily exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines section 15265, which states that 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 local coastal program review and approval procedures have been found to be functionally equivalent to the environmental review process. The City Council determines that, in accordance with CEQA, the recommended actions are implementing actions of the Project and are exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and, alternatively, Section 15265 for the same reasons set forth in the CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) that was filed with the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Orange County Clerk-Recorder on July 23, 2026. There have been no changes to the Project, no changed circumstances, and no new information that could not previously have been known, that would trigger the need for subsequent CEQA review. Upon taking the recommended actions, City staff will cause a Notice of Exemption in connection with this action to be filed with the County Recorder’s Office and State Clearinghouse within five days.
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Council Resolution
2. Ordinance No. 1730
3. City Council Resolution No. 26.059
Submitted By: Matthew Schneider Approved: .David A Kiff Matthew Schneider, Director of
Community Development
Dave Kiff, City Manager
DR EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE AND AMENDED DR GUIDELINES: COASTAL ACT
CONFORMITY
September 22, 2026
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Anthony Viera, Deputy Director of Community
Development, Community Development
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney