Laguna Beach Planning Commission - October 21, 2026

October 21, 2026

Executive Summary

- Approved Sign Permit 2026-1039 and Variance 2026-1040 for The Ranch at 31106 Coast Highway on a 5-0 vote, authorizing removal and replacement of one illuminated freestanding sign along Coast Highway and refacing of another sign on the ranch property; the Coast Highway sign exceeds maximum allowable sign area (77 square feet total versus no permitted area due to lack of building frontage), height (89 inches versus 72 inches), and includes internal illumination through edge-lit push-through acrylic letters and LED light bars capped at 3000 Kelvin. - Approved Design Review 2026-1967 for the City's Mermaid Parking Lot Beautification Project at 348 Glenneyre Street on a 5-0 vote with significant modifications reversing the landscape architect's running bond brick pattern recommendation, directing instead herringbone brick paving at the entrance threshold with concrete infill in narrow areas, requiring crazy quilt brick veneer seat walls with a mock-up sample, adding a low separation wall to protect the Tim Smith mural, and directing staff to maintain the bike route sign either relocated within the project or across the street. - Approved Design Review 2026-1942 and Coastal Development

Key Decisions

- Adopted Resolution No. 2026-1040 approving Sign Permit 2026-1039 and Variance 2026-1040 for The Ranch at 31106 Coast Highway (5-0 vote), granting three variances: (1) exceeding maximum allowable sign area for the site (77 square feet with no permitted area due to lack of building frontage), (2) exceeding maximum allowable sign area and height for a freestanding sign (38.5 square feet per face versus 25 square feet maximum; 89 inches tall versus 72 inches maximum), and (3) allowing internal illumination through edge-lit push-through acrylic letters and LED light bars capped at 3000 Kelvin per