Planners ask for revised rooftop plans for Rock’n Fish

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission is willing to consider the merits of a proposed rooftop deck atop the Heisler building if the height of an elevator is decreased to match the existing roofline.

At their July 23 meeting, commissioners voted 4 to 0 to continue discussion Sept. 10 to allow architect Todd Skenderian, on behalf of building owner Sam Goldstein, to return with revised plans for a deck at Rock’n Fish restaurant. Commissioner Robert Zur Schmiede recused himself because Goldstein contributed to Zur Schmiede’s City Council campaign.

Existing plans call for a 1,348-square-foot wood-floor deck — raised 3 1/2 feet off the ground — with two new stairways, an elevator and a lift for the property at South Coast Highway and Laguna Avenue. Goldstein bought the building, which housed the Jolly Roger, in 2006 and renovated the space to open the Tommy Bahama restaurant and retail store on the first floor and Rock’n Fish on the second floor in 2010.

The building, deemed exceptional for its historic value to the city, is within the downtown specific plan, which limits structure height to one story or 18 feet — 12 feet plus six feet for roof lines and chimneys.

The Heisler building was built before existing height requirements went into effect. Its tallest point is a chimney at 63 feet, according to a city staff report. The proposed elevator would reach 68 feet.

Commissioner Ken Sadler voted for the continuance but said he was wary of making exceptions for height and the effect on views.

“There are other buildings that predate the current height standards, like Hotel Laguna, that well exceed the allowable height limit,” he said. “But none of those structures have been granted a variance for going up higher than what they are right now.”

Skenderian argued that the commission issued three previous variances for the property, which included partially enclosing the second-story patio and modifying roof features.

Commissioner Norm Grossman said the current proposal is different.

“[In those cases] we were restoring historic integrity,” Grossman said. “The elevator doesn’t do anything for the historic integrity.”

One option could be to reduce the elevator height by 5 feet to the top of the existing roofline, Skenderian said in an interview Tuesday. Additional alternatives could be relocating the elevator or installing a less-expensive chair lift in place of the elevator, he said.

A few residents spoke in favor of a deck during the meeting, saying it would provide a desirable dining option with ocean views in an area where one doesn’t exist.

Commissioners said they weren’t opposed to rooftop decks but, as Grossman noted, they must ensure that a project doesn’t violate the city’s general plan.

Other speakers weren’t as enthusiastic, claiming a rooftop deck with its eight proposed umbrellas and a railing surrounding the perimeter could pose privacy and view issues.

Hotel Laguna’s chief operating officer, Heinz Hofmann, said he is concerned about his guests having privacy from customers sitting at tables atop the proposed deck.

“The view is not just of the ocean but is clearly into second-floor bedrooms of my hotel,” Hofmann told commissioners. “I have a second issue: noise. What is to prevent the owner from taking the guitar player and putting him up on the terrace?”

The deck would be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, according to the staff report.

Sadler also said a rooftop deck could block the view for people standing atop the Glenneyre Street parking structure.

“There’s a clear view blockage of Main Beach, the rocks beyond, and you might say, ‘It’s a parking structure,’” Sadler said. “[But] it’s a public space and it’s a place where they’ve had community events.”

Rock’n Fish isn’t the first restaurant in town to encounter scrutiny when proposing a rooftop deck. In late 2012, the Planning Commission voted unanimously for a 1,205-square-foot deck at Mozambique, which is not in the downtown specific plan area.

Commissioners split 3 to 2 on the exterior elevator at Mozambique after reviewing modifications to the original plan that lowered the elevator shaft by 30 inches and spiffed up the facade with a tile roof.

Goldstein said he has wanted a rooftop deck since he bought the Heisler building.

“People want to look at the ocean and want some vibrancy [in downtown],” Goldstein said.

Skenderian will meet with officials from the city’s building and fire departments as well as historian Andrea Galvin to determine the best option.

“Nowhere else in the downtown do you have rooftop dining,” Skenderian said. “This would be the first of its kind.”