Laguna City Council To Review Proposal For Sweetwater Car Wash Site

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A proposed mixed-use retail and residential space eyed for Laguna Beach's Sweetwater Hand Car Wash could be backtracked at the next city council session on Tuesday.

The Laguna Beach City Council will review and likely appeal the planning commission's thumbs up of the conditional use permit, design review, and various other permits regarding the razing and rebuilding of that site located at 1890 South Coast Highway.

The car wash's previous life as a gas station remains at the heart of the matter, especially with regard to probable contamination of the soil beneath the property, according to two resident complaints.

The city's community development director Marc Wiener and the city's interim city manager, Sean Joyce, each signed the recommendation, which suggests the planning commission "incorrectly determined that the project is exempt from the provisions of CEQA, and specifically assert that the CEQA analysis did not evaluate contamination on the site," according to the latest staff report.

A history of the project:

The Planning Commission first heard of the proposed mixed-use project at a concept review hearing in 2018. Two entitlement hearings followed in 2020 and 2021. The project received a positive review from the commission in 2023, according to staff reports. Afterward, two property owners appealed the project to the city regarding the lack of proper environmental reports.

The city is expected to recommend the planning commission return to the drawing board for another environmental review, staff reports show.

Residents Raise Questions The City Must Answer:

Resident Christy Miller recently shared her concerns with the Laguna Beach Independent, primarily due to likely soil contamination from the former gas station.

"As community members, we trust the city and its officials to prioritize our safety and well-being," Miller wrote. "Unfortunately, this trust has been shattered as we have discovered the true nature of the site's contamination. This revelation has left us feeling betrayed and has significantly eroded our faith in those responsible for overseeing such projects."

The CEQA requires public agencies to "look before they leap" and inform decision-makers and the public about potential environmental effects to prevent avoidable ecological damage, according to the agency's website.