Design Review 22 2304 and Variance 24-0690- Hotel Laguna

2 Documents in Project

Summary

SCH Number
2024070425
Public Agency
City of Laguna Beach
Document Title
Design Review 22 2304 and Variance 24-0690- Hotel Laguna
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/11/2024
Document Description
The Applicant, Hotel Laguna, LLC ("applicant") proposes the following improvements to Hotel Laguna, a commercial building located in the Central Bluff District: (1) exterior changes to the existing building, which includes but is not limited to: (i) repainting of the building with revised paint and trim colors; (ii) replacement of guest room doors and windows with fiberglass systems; (iii) replacement of the fire escapes and accessways; (iv) restore the rooftop spire above the existing cupula that exceeds the maximum building height in the CBD-Central Bluffs District [OS~ General Development Standards (E) (pg.155)]; and (v) façade restoration which includes installing new awnings, restoring archway details, storefront fenestration systems, other historic details and stucco repair-replacement (hereinafter referred to as "Exterior Changes"); (2) renovations to existing hotel rooms, including updated lighting, wall coverings, furnishings, fixtures, flooring, bathrooms, and addition of air condition ng; (3) interior remodel work, including remodeling of 2nd and 3rd floor guest rooms, including hallways, and remodeling of 1st floor lobby, reception, retail spaces, and corner cafe, structural repairs and upgrades throughout ("structural work"); (4) replacement of the flat roof above the hotel; and (5) installation of two vertical blade signs. (hereinafter referred to as the "Project").

Contact Information

Name
Martina Caron
Agency Name
City of Laguna Beach
Job Title
Principal Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Laguna Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
425 South Coast Highway
Zip
92651
Parcel #
644-016-01
State Highways
California
Township
Laguna

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, Class 1 and Section 15331, Class 31
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities (Class 1 ). Class 1 applies to activities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, such as the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or topographical features. Examples of Class 1 activities include interior or exterior repairs and alterations, and the rehabilitation of structures. Here, the proposed Project will include minor interior and exterior repairs and alterations in order to rehabilitate the hotel.. There will be negligible or no expansion of existing or former use of the hotel, and therefore the Class 1 exemption applies. In addition, the Project is categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15331 Historical Resource Restoration/Rehabilitation (Class 31 ), in that the Project is limited to maintenance, repair, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, conservation or reconstruction of Hotel Laguna (a historical resource) in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for !Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings (1995). A historic assessment has been prepared by Chattel Inc., and peer reviewed by GPA Consulting, finding that the Project w9uld not create an adverse change to the historic resource. (See Attachments 5-11 of the May 15, 2024 City of Laguna Beach Planning Commission Staff Report.) Further, none of the exceptions outlined n CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply. The Project site does not contain any environmentally sensitive areas. The Project is located in an urbanized area and no existing building envelope and are not anticipated to create any additional adverse effects on the 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. South Coast Highway has qualified I as a candidate scenic highway and is included in the State Master Plan of Scenic Highways but has not received an official State designation. The Project would not damage any scenic resources, but instead improves upon the existing conditions through the rehabilitation and preservation a significant historic structure. The Project is not located on a hazardous waste site, 9r any other site included on a list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5. Additionally, no hazardous waste uses have existed on the site. The Project will not result in significant adverse impacts to historical resources as defined by CEQA. The proposed Project has been designed to comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation to avoid any adverse changes to the historic resource. The historic assessment prepared by Chattel Inc., and peer reviewed by GPA Consulting, finds that the proposed project would not create an adverse change to the historic resource. (Attachments 5-11.) Consequently, the Class 1 and Class 31 categorical exemptions apply. environmentally sensitive resources would be impacted by the proposed Project, and the proposed Project consists of the rehabilitation and restoration of a historic structure that is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and all improvements would occur within a previously disturbed areas of the Property. There will be no cumulative impact resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time. There are no other new hotel avenues proposed at this time within the City, therefore the Project is not anticipated to create a cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same location. There are no unusual circumstances resulting in a significant impact on the environment. The Project site is developed with an existing hotel, with retail and restaurant uses.
County Clerk
Orange

Attachments

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