Laguna Planning Commission Demands Museum Hotel Changes

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Concept drawings for the proposed 118 room, three-story-tall Museum Hotel were presented to the Laguna Beach Planning Commission in a recent meeting. The reviews for the proposed structure, planned on North Coast Highway between Jasmine Street and Cliff Drive, were met with much push-back by residents and the commission members.

The Museum Hotel is slated to be built on seven lots currently owned by the Laguna Beach Co. The building, according to the planning commission, allows for 74 hotel rooms, open space, and abundant parking. Currently, the landscape of the block is retro, in need of renovation. The location is within easy proximity of the Laguna Art Museum just a short block from Heisler Park and Main Beach, right in the heart of artsy Laguna.

The plans presented by the Laguna Beach Co. offered 118 rooms, shops ad restaurants.
The planning commission needed more information, according to a report from the Daily Pilot.

"At this point, in my opinion, there's a significant amount of work and revision that needs to be done," the Pilot reported Sadler as saying.

Though Hornarkar said the new hotel would bring money-spending tourists to town, along with jobs through the many shops and restaurants, unanswered questions left residents with a bad taste for the project.

Residents spoke out on the design, which they considered negative, wondering if it didn't have "too young" of a vibe. The three-story height of the potentially view-obstructing buildings was also called into question. Finally, the conversation turned to if the design fit the area, with Commissioner Goldman saying the "personality" of the hotel was inconclusive.

"What does the hotel want to be?" he asked those present.

Ultimately, the Laguna Beach Co. will go back to the concept drawing board as the design plans do not meet review guidelines. Patch has reached out to the Laguna Beach Co. for comment and will update this report when that is received.