Laguna Beach's New Downtown Plan Approved By Coastal Commission

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —The California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a Local Coastal Program Amendment for updates to the City of Laguna Beach Downtown Specific Plan, the city shared on Thursday. The approval of the planning document serves to guide growth, design, and development standards in Downtown Laguna Beach, according to a city spokesperson.

The updated Downtown Specific Plan was adopted by the Laguna Beach City Council in July 2020 but needed Coastal Commission certification before it can be implemented.

Laguna Beach's new mayor, Sue Kempf, discussed the approval fo the plan.

“We are pleased the Coastal Commission approved these revisions, which will enable us to attract high-quality retailers with fresh and innovative businesses, fill our empty and run-down storefronts and also provide more flexibility to our long-time retailers,” Kempf said. “These revisions support rapidly changing resident and visitor needs and will enhance the City’s vitality while maintaining the special qualities of our Downtown.”

The update to the Downtown Specific Plan strikes a balance between allowing greater flexibility in land uses with a streamlined review process while continuing to protect the unique character and aesthetics of the Downtown.

Coastal Commission-approved updates to the Plan primarily:

1. Add new parking requirement of three spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area for certain non-residential uses in the Downtown.
2. Allow most uses in Downtown as permit-by-right rather than require a local Conditional Use Permit in order to streamline and reduce barriers to new business.
3. Allow the City to change the “Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements Table” through an administrative LCP amendment.
4. Allow for the re-use of public parking in Downtown.
5. Enhance the design guideline criteria for new projects.

Over the past several months, City staff has worked closely with the Coastal Commission staff to prepare for the hearing. Coastal Commission staff gave the document a positive recommendation going into Wednesday’s meeting.

The updated DSP does not include any new standards or provisions that would allow nonconforming structures to be replaced or reconstructed up to the original height, nor does it specifically allow or promote second-story additions to historic buildings. The updated DSP does not modify the City’s Historic Preservation Program and retains a list of properties in the Downtown that are on the City’s Historic Register and those eligible for the National and State Registers