Planning Commission Meeting - September 2, 2026

The City of Laguna Beach Planning Commission held a meeting on September 2, 2026, primarily addressing a temporary use permit (TUP) request for a remote construction staging area and employee parking lot to support the Pacific Edge Hotel remodel project. The proposed site is a paved parking lot at 30802 Coast Highway, intended for worker parking and limited material storage during construction from October 2026 to October 2028. The commission and public expressed significant concerns about traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, noise, air quality, emergency access, and community impact, especially given the site's proximity to a mobile home community and busy intersections. After extensive public comment and deliberation, the commission leaned toward approving the site for employee parking only, eliminating construction staging and material storage, with conditions including one-way traffic flow, secured gates at night, no construction fencing or porta potties, and shuttle service to the hotel site. The exact number of parking spaces was to be confirmed and brought back for consent at a future meeting. Additionally, the commission tabled a separate agenda item concerning streetscape improvements on Ocean and Beach Avenues to allow for further outreach and evaluation, with a potential working group formed to assist in the process. No votes were taken on the streetscape project, but the temporary use permit was conditionally approved to be finalized at a subsequent meeting.