Laguna Beach Design Review Board - January 9, 2025

January 9, 2025

Executive Summary

- The Design Review Board held a meeting on February 13, 2025, to review nine design review applications involving new single-family residences, residential additions, elevated decks, accessory dwelling units, and variance requests across various zones in Laguna Beach. - Staff recommended approval for most projects with categorical exemptions under CEQA, though several applications required continuances for additional deliberation on variance requests, neighbor concerns, and project modifications. - Multiple projects required coastal development permits in both appealable and non-appealable areas of the Coastal Zone, with several seeking variances for setback encroachments, parking deficiencies, and lot coverage. - Key discussion items included 999 Oriole Drive (new single-family home with front yard setback variance), 890 Hillcrest Drive (major remodel exceeding 50% of existing floor area), 309 Hawthorne Road (third hearing on a single-family dwelling with attached ADU and public right-of-way encroachment), and 2354 San Clemente Street (new residence with Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration). - The Board addressed neighbor privacy and view equity concerns on multiple appl

Key Decisions

- Approved January 9, 2025, Draft Design Review Board Minutes (Consent Calendar Item 4.1) - Expected votes on nine regular business items (5.1-5.9), though specific decisions cannot be confirmed without meeting transcript - Projects requiring Board approval included new single-family residences, major remodels, elevated decks, ADU conversions, variance requests, and coastal development permits - Staff recommended approval for Design Review 24-1344, Coastal Development Permit 24-1343, and Variance 24-1345 at 999 Oriole Drive for a new single-family home with front yard setback variance - Staff