The Laguna Beach Planning Commission on Dec. 5 voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit (CUP 25-2265), coastal development permit (CDP 25-2267) and sign permit (25-2266) to reopen the Seahorse Tavern at 1796 South Coast Highway under new ownership, subject to a set of conditions intended to mitigate noise, trash and late-night impacts on adjacent residences.

Staff presented the proposal and recommended approval with project-specific conditions. The proposed tavern will sell beer, wine and wine-based cocktails (a Type 42 ABC license) and operate 5–10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 5–11 p.m. Friday–Saturday, with ambient acoustic music centralized in the front portion of the building. The property is on the city’s historic register and staff recommended the commission forward a parking-incentive request (a 75% historic reduction) to City Council; the reduction would lower a required parking count of 24 to a net 6 spaces — the site currently provides 8 spaces.

Several commissioners raised questions about the rear door, trash handling, employee parking and the potential for rideshare-related queuing on Coast Highway. Commissioners and staff agreed on edits to conditions: (1) require live entertainment to end 30 minutes prior to closing each night and to comply with Laguna Beach Municipal Code Chapter 7.25 (exterior noise limits), (2) restrict trash disposal/transport to daytime hours — staff and the commission identified 7 a.m.–5 p.m. as the working window — and require smell-proof containment and morning removal practices, (3) limit the rear door to ADA access, deliveries and emergency egress only, to be reinforced by directional signage and a no-loitering sign at the rear entry, and (4) require operators to monitor the parking area hourly for trash and loitering and to coordinate employee parking/commute measures.

Owner Gary Ledesma and the applicant team said they have more than 1,000 petition signatures in support and pledged to comply with the new conditions; neighbors who opposed the reopening characterized prior operations as disruptive and urged denial. After discussion and edits to the draft conditions, Commissioner Dubin moved to adopt the resolutions with the modified conditions and to recommend the parking reduction to City Council; the motion was seconded and approved by unanimous roll call. The commission’s decision is subject to a 14-day appeal period; the parking-reduction (historic incentive) component will proceed to City Council for separate action.