Design Review Board approves several Laguna Beach projects, adds conditions and continuances
January 23, 2026 | Laguna Beach, Orange County, California
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The Laguna Beach Design Review Board voted Jan. 28 to approve several residential projects and to continue several others after public comment and board deliberation.
Key outcomes at a glance:
- Approved 1215 La Mirada (Design Review 2025‑1613). Staff found the modest addition and deck changes compatible with the neighborhood and exempt from CEQA (15301); board vote 5‑0.
- Approved 1782 Ocean Way (Design Review 25‑2150; CDP 25‑2151) for additions and an elevator serving two units; staff reported no neighbor objections and recommended a categorical CEQA exemption; board vote 5‑0.
- Approved 2495 Monaco (Design Review 25‑2392) for a redesign that converts internal driveway space to a courtyard, adds pool and reconfigures garages; the project has HOA approval and received unanimous board support.
- Approved 26 Lagunita Drive (Design Review and CDP) with one explicit condition: two ground‑level garage windows will be made opaque to address neighbor privacy concerns; board vote 5‑0.
- The board also handled consent and multiple continuances: consent calendar item 4.1 (645 Buena Vista) passed 5‑0; a group of continuances listed by the chair were approved 5‑0.
Several projects were continued for additional work or neighborhood outreach: 1025 Cortez (pool and fencing) was continued so the applicant can propose alternative fence materials or limit fencing to the pool perimeter; 399 Pearl (ADU and building site coverage) and 610 Mystic View (large new house) were both continued to allow the applicant to address neighbor privacy, building‑site‑coverage and geotechnical/landscape concerns.
Board votes and staff resolutions were read into the record; the DRB applied CEQA categorical exemptions where staff recommended them.
Key outcomes at a glance:
- Approved 1215 La Mirada (Design Review 2025‑1613). Staff found the modest addition and deck changes compatible with the neighborhood and exempt from CEQA (15301); board vote 5‑0.
- Approved 1782 Ocean Way (Design Review 25‑2150; CDP 25‑2151) for additions and an elevator serving two units; staff reported no neighbor objections and recommended a categorical CEQA exemption; board vote 5‑0.
- Approved 2495 Monaco (Design Review 25‑2392) for a redesign that converts internal driveway space to a courtyard, adds pool and reconfigures garages; the project has HOA approval and received unanimous board support.
- Approved 26 Lagunita Drive (Design Review and CDP) with one explicit condition: two ground‑level garage windows will be made opaque to address neighbor privacy concerns; board vote 5‑0.
- The board also handled consent and multiple continuances: consent calendar item 4.1 (645 Buena Vista) passed 5‑0; a group of continuances listed by the chair were approved 5‑0.
Several projects were continued for additional work or neighborhood outreach: 1025 Cortez (pool and fencing) was continued so the applicant can propose alternative fence materials or limit fencing to the pool perimeter; 399 Pearl (ADU and building site coverage) and 610 Mystic View (large new house) were both continued to allow the applicant to address neighbor privacy, building‑site‑coverage and geotechnical/landscape concerns.
Board votes and staff resolutions were read into the record; the DRB applied CEQA categorical exemptions where staff recommended them.
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