CDP 2025-0036
Summary
SCH Number
2025070509
Public Agency
City of Laguna Beach
Document Title
CDP 2025-0036
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/11/2025
Document Description
On April 9, 2025, the Community Development Director ("Director") held a public hearing on CDP 25-0036 for the Project, appróved the Project, and found the Project categorically exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines Section 15303, as reflected in Community Development Director Determination No. 25-0036 (the "Director Approval"). On.April 23, 2025, Michael and Stacy Simondi ("Appellant"), the property owners of 1655 Hillcrest Drive, filed a notice of appeal of the Director Approval (the "Appeal"). On June 10, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing on the Appeal and continued the public hearing to July 8, 2025. On July 8, 2025, the City Council held a continued public hearing on the Appeal and adopted a resolution (Attachment 1 to the June 8, 2025 staff report) denying the appeal, upholding the Director's Approval, and finding the action categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15303.
Contact Information
Name
Daniel Latham
Agency Name
City of Laguna Beach
Job Title
Associate Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Warren Hutcherson
Agency Name
Warren Hutcherson Designer
Job Title
Designer
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Laguna Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Louise Street & Hillcrest Drive
Zip
92651
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15303
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), the Project is categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15303 - Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, in that the Project consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small structures. Examples of this exemption include a single-family residence or a second dwelling unit in a residential zone. (State CEQA Guldelines, § 15303(a).) Here, the Project consists of a second-story attached accessory dwelling unit to be constructed above the northwest portion ofthe existing single-family residence. is Further, none of the exceptions outlined in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. The Project site does not contain any environmentally sensitive.areas according to the City's GIS. There will be no cumulative impact resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time. There is no evidence of any unusual or special conditions that would result in a significant effect on the environment in that the Project is a second-story attached accessory dwelling unit to be constructed above the existing single-family residence and is proposed in a developed neighborhood. Further, the additlon of this 810-square foot ADU as a second story will result in an overall structure height of 20.166 feet, where a maximum height of 25 feet permitted pursuant to LBMC 25.10.008(D), and thus is appropriately scaled to be visually compatible with its surrounding environment. There will be no damage to scenic resources, including trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway in that Project is located within the footprint of an existing single-family home. The Project is not located on a hazardous waste site or any other site included on a list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5 according to the Cortese list. The Project will not result in significant adverse impacts to historical resources as defined by CEQA in that the Project site does not contain historic resources. Consequently, this Project is categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15303.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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