Adoption of the DR Efficiency Ordinance, Efficiency Ordinance, and Resolution Amending the DR Guidelines, and Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Version of the DR
Summary
SCH Number
2026070932
Public Agency
City of Laguna Beach
Document Title
Adoption of the DR Efficiency Ordinance, Efficiency Ordinance, and Resolution Amending the DR Guidelines, and Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Version of the DR
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/23/2026
Document Description
[PROJECT TITLE CONTINUED]: Efficiency Ordinance
Municipal Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend Title 25 (Zoning), Title 21 (Plats and Subdivisions), and Title 22 (Excavating, Grading, and Filling) of the Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program to streamline the design review and other permit processes (the "DR Efficiency Ordinance"); Municipal Code Amendment to amend Chapter 7.25 (Noise), Chapter 12.08 (Preservation of Heritage Trees), Chapter 12.16 (View Preservation and Restoration), and Chapter 17.50 (Private Sewer Laterals) (the "Efficiency Ordinance"); and urgency ordinance version of the DR Efficiency Ordinance; and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the Design Guidelines - A Guide to Residential Development (the "DR Guidelines").
Contact Information
Name
Anthony Viera
Agency Name
City of Laguna Beach
Job Title
Deputy Director of Community Development
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Laguna Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Citywide
Zip
92651
State Highways
Highway 1
Other Location Info
City of Laguna Beach
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the recommended actions meet the exemption because the City is amending its codes to improve procedural efficiencies and to comply with state law. The City is not authorizing new uses that are not already established within the City through the actions. Furthermore, and as an alternative, under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15265, CEQA does not apply to activities and approvals pursuant to the Coastal Act necessary for the preparation and adoption of a local coastal program because the Coastal Commission's LCP review and approval procedures have been found to be functionally equivalent to the environmental review process. Therefore, the actions amending the City's local coastal program are statutorily exempt from CEQA.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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