NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD BY CITY COUNCILOF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN – The City Council will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following: Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lake Forest, California, amending the Lake Forest Municipal Code (LFMC) regarding massage establishments.Hearing Date: June 16, 2026Hearing Time: 6:30 p.m.Hearing Location: Lake Forest Council Chambers,100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, CAProject Location: Citywide
Project Description: A City-initiated Ordinance amending the LFMC Title 5 regarding massage establishments. The ordinance sets distancing separation and new operational requirements for massage establishments, implements the California Red Light Abatement Act, and requires license for personal care businesses. An urgency ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Forest on August 19, 2025, and extended on September 16, 2025, which continues the massage moratorium for a total of one year pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858, temporarily prohibiting the establishment of businesses offering massages pending study and adoption of regulatory standards.
Environmental Documentation: This Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to the following sections of the State CEQA Guidelines:Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(2), an activity is not subject to CEQA if the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Here, the adoption of an ordinance will extend the moratorium on massage establishments. This action will not cause a direct or reasonably indirect physical change in the environment because such actions do not authorize or prompt any development or physical changes to the environment. Thus, section 15060(c)(2) applies to the moratorium, and no further action is therefore required.
Additionally, under State CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3), an activity is not subject to CEQA if the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378(a). Under Section 15378(a), a project is an action that has the potential for resulting in in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. This is a request to extend the urgency ordinance adopted by City Council on August 19, 2025. The City is studying problems related to some massages establishments and considering possible revisions to the City’s regulatory and zoning standards. City staff’s recommendation is for the City Council to extend the moratorium for 10 months and 15 days because the City requires additional time to complete its study and revisions to is regulatory and zoning standards. Section 65858(a) of the California Code allows the extension of an existing ordinance providing for a moratorium after notice pursuant to Section 65090 and a public hearing.
These actions do not cause a direct or reasonably indirect physical change in the environment because such actions do not authorize or prompt any development or physical changes to the environment. Therefore, this moratorium does not constitute a project as defined by CEQA and no further action is therefore required. This moratorium also qualifies for the commonsense exemption under Section 15061(b)(3). Under Section 15061(b)(3), CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here, the Ordinance does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment because such actions do not authorize or prompt any development or physical changes to the environment. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this moratorium may have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, it is not subject to CEQA.
All 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/Agendas. 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 City Council 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 citycouncil@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 City Council meeting, please submit email comments no later than 5:00 p.m. on 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 City Clerk prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Any petition for judicial review of a decision of the Lake Forest City Council 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 City Council 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 City Council shall be limited to those issues raised at the hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk 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.CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Amy Stonich, AICP, Assistant Director, at (949) 461-3479 or via e-mail at astonich@lakeforestca.gov.
/s/ Thy MerrittCity ClerkSaddleback Valley NewsPublished: 5/21/26