Design Review Board approves reduced top deck and mechanical relocation at 954 Rembrandt Drive

The Laguna Beach Design Review Board approved design modifications for a single‑family dwelling at 954 Rembrandt Drive on June 11, imposing conditions to reduce the size of a proposed upper‑level deck, insert planted green‑roof perimeter, and relocate air‑conditioning condensers off the new roof deck.

Staff planner Heather summarized the application as a change to a previously approved two‑story home under construction, noting the proposal would convert a flat roof into a 729‑square‑foot upper deck with glass guardrails and add additional habitable space through mechanical‑room conversions. Heather told the board staff received one letter of opposition citing deck size and privacy concerns and that staff considered the project consistent with design‑review guidelines.

Architect Horst Knappenberger said the design team had a productive neighborhood meeting and proposed to address privacy by wrapping a planted perimeter—what he called a "green roof"—around parts of the deck. He told the board the green perimeter would reduce the effective deck area from roughly 730 square feet to approximately 370 square feet and that the team was willing to move mechanical equipment, saying "we could move those two AC units to the inland side of the house" so they would sit at the mid‑level mechanical space rather than on the top deck.

Neighbors argued the upper deck still risked becoming a large entertainment area and would intrude on privacy and views. One neighbor described the proposed top deck as "party central" if left at the larger size and urged the board to bring the decking in line with the mid‑level deck dimensions. The applicant responded that the revised plan reduces area and adds green screening.

Board members focused on precise dimensions, sightlines and the mechanical equipment location. After back‑and‑forth about measurements (examples discussed included 16 feet 10 inches depth by 22 feet 1 inch width for portions of the roof) board member Louis moved to adopt resolution 2026‑0779 (design review 2026‑0779) and coastal development permit 2026‑0780 with conditions requiring the AC condensers be relocated to the mid‑level mechanical space, that guardrails be installed prior to the planted green roof (guardrail between deck and planting), and that the leading edge of the Bluebird Canyon‑facing deck be reduced (board and applicant discussed an 11‑foot‑4‑inch projection from the building face as acceptable in the approved configuration). The motion passed unanimously.

The board directed staff to finalize dimensional language and to include the green‑roof and condenser relocation details in the resolution so the permit conditions are enforceable.

Next steps: staff to prepare final resolution language and permit documents; applicant to submit any required engineering and building permits consistent with the board conditions.