Public hearing on zoning code amendment regarding group homes and boarding houses.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGTO BE HELD BY PLANNING COMMISSIONOF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN – Zoning Code Amendment 07-25-5813 (ZC 07-25-5813) is a City initiated Zoning Code Amendment to amend Title 9 (Zoning Code) of the Lake Forest Municipal Code related to group homes, residential care facilities, and boarding houses.
Hearing Date:May 7, 2026Hearing Time:6:30 p.m.Hearing Location:Lake Forest Council Chambers,100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, CAProject Location: CitywideProject Description: ZC 07-25-5813 is a City-initiated Zoning Code Amendment to amend Title 9 (Zoning Code) of the Lake Forest Municipal Code related to group homes, residential care facilities, and boarding houses. This Zoning Code Amendment includes updating definitions, more clearly prohibiting boarding houses from zoning districts that allow residential uses, adding group homes as a permitted use in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, and updating references related to Municipal Code Chapter 5.44. The Planning Commission’s action serves as a recommendation to the City Council.Environmental Documentation: ZC 07-25-5813 is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to the following sections of the State CEQA Guidelines:This Zoning Code Amendment does not qualify as a "project" subject to CEQA because this Zoning Code Amendment will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15060(c)(2)-(3), 15378.) Notably, this Zoning Code Amendment serves to create regulations and an administrative process for group homes. This Zoning Code Amendment authorizes no new development and will not result in any construction or any other physical change to the environment. Thus, this Zoning Code Amendment will not result in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment and is not a "project" within the meaning of CEQA.In the alternative, if this Zoning Code Amendment is a project subject to CEQA, this Zoning Code Amendment is exempt from environmental review. For the same reasons the Zoning Code Amendment does not qualify as a "project," this Zoning Code Amendment falls within the "common sense" exemption because "it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment." (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15061(b)(3).) Specifically, and as noted above, this Zoning Code Amendment will not result in any construction or any other physical change to the environment because it involves creating regulations and an administrative process for group homes. Thus, there is no possibility that this Zoning Code Amendment would have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, this Zoning Code Amendment is not subject to CEQAAll persons either favoring or opposing this proposal are invited to present their views before or at this hearing per the following special notice regarding public participation and comment. It is requested that any supportive documents and/or written comments be submitted prior to the public hearing.Agenda on the Internet: The meeting Agenda will be available on the City website at https://lakeforestca.gov/city_government/agendas_and_minutes/index.php . You can access the document on the Friday before the meeting. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the City website. Agenda Document Review: The full Agenda including all back up information will be available at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California, on the Friday before the meeting. Agenda Description: The Agenda descriptions are intended to give notice to members of the public of a general summary of items of business to be transacted or discussed. The listed Recommended Action represents staff’s recommendation. The Planning Commission may take any action which it deems to be appropriate on the agenda item and is not limited in any way by the recommended action.
Public Comment prior to meeting: Members of the public may submit email comments to planningcommission@lakeforestca.gov . Email comments will be uploaded to the agenda packet and made part of the official public record of the meeting and will not be read at the meeting. To ensure staff reviews all comments prior to the Planning Commission meeting, please submit email comments no later than 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Public Comment at meeting : Members of the public may provide in-person, verbal comments for any item during the meeting. Those wishing to provide comments will be asked to fill out a speaker card and provide it to the Commission Secretary prior to the commencement of the meeting.Any petition for judicial review of a decision of the Lake Forest Planning Commission is controlled by the statute of limitations provisions set forth in Sections 2.50.010 and 2.50.020 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code (“LFMC”) and Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, or void any decision of the Lake Forest Planning Commission is controlled by Section 2.50.010 and Section 2.50.020 of the LFMC.
Any such action or proceeding that seeks judicial review of, attacks, or seeks to set aside or void any decision of the Lake Forest Planning Commission shall be limited to those issues raised at the hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the Secretary to the Planning Commission, at, or prior to, the public hearing described in this notice, and must be commenced within the time limits specified in Chapter 2.50 of the LFMC.
WHO TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION - For additional information, please contact Jennifer Mansur, AICP, Senior Planner, at (949) 461-3472 or via e-mail at jmansur@lakeforestca.gov 
/s/ Thy MerrittCity ClerkSaddleback Valley NewsPublished: 4/16/26