Design Review 25-0319 and Coastal Development Permit 25-0318 to convert a temporary pedestrian plaza into a more permanent pedestrian plaza at Lower Forest Ave;
Summary
SCH Number
2025060680
Public Agency
City of Laguna Beach
Document Title
Design Review 25-0319 and Coastal Development Permit 25-0318 to convert a temporary pedestrian plaza into a more permanent pedestrian plaza at Lower Forest Ave;
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/16/2025
Document Description
On March 25, 2025, City Council of Laguna Beach approved the Promenade on Forest Project (“Project”) to convert a temporary pedestrian plaza occupying a portion of Forest Avenue into a permanent pedestrian plaza. As part of that March 25th approval, the City Council determined the Project was statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b), and a Notice of Exemption was filed within five working days of the March 25th approval. As part of that Project, design review, a coastal development permit, and a resolution designating Lower Forest Avenue as a slow street are necessary to further implement this Project.
Contact Information
Name
Louie Lacasella
Agency Name
City of Laguna Beach
Job Title
Senior Administrative Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Laguna Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Lower Forest Avenue, between the Forest Avenue/South Coast Highway intersection and the Forest Avenue/Glenneyre Street intersection
Other Information
Lower Forest Avenue, between the Forest Avenue/South Coast Highway intersection and the Forest Avenue/Glenneyre Street intersection
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
The project is statutorily exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 21080.25(b)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
On June 11, 2025, the City Council upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of Design Review 25-0319 and Coastal Development Permit 25-0318 and the Community Development Director’s approval of Coastal Development Permit 25-0587, and found the actions statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b). At the same meeting, the City Council adopted a resolution designating Lower Forest Ave as a slow street and authorizing the City Manager or designee to take certain actions to close Lower Forest Ave to vehicular traffic, and found the action statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b). The upholding of the Commission Approval and Director Approval by the City Council and the adoption of a resolution by the City Council designating Lower Forest Ave as a slow street and authorizing the City Manager to take certain actions to close Lower Forest Ave to vehicular traffic, implement the Project that the City Council previously approved on March 25, 2025. Thus, these actions are statutorily exempt under Senate Bill (SB) 922/Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b)(1), for the same reasons set forth in the CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) that was filed within five working days after the March 25th City Council approval. 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.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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