Laguna Beach leaders are talking about how to add more parking at the popular Aliso Beach.
Both the inland and the coastal lots serving the beach need some refreshing, officials said, with upgraded paving, new curbs and sidewalk repairs to meet current ADA standards. While that’s being considered, the City Council is also looking at how more parking spaces could be included.
Together, the two lots now have 275 spaces. The council hopes to expand that by 90 spots, which could generate an increase in annual parking revenue of $225,000, they said. Data from the past two years indicates the two parking lots yield about $2,500 per space annually, officials said.
“Anytime we can maximize revenues for the South Laguna operations, I think it’s important,” City Manager Dave Kiff said.
The council talked about the options for maximizing parking this week, but city staffers haven’t finalized a cost for the improved and expanded parking project yet, said Tom Perez, the city’s engineer.
The project is part of the city’s capital improvements, and Kiff held a study session on Tuesday, April 9, so the public and council members could weigh in on the three options, which range from a simple refresh — including the pavement, restriping and adding ADA-compliant access — to removing plants and changing the parking stall sizes to create more space.
The city took over the jurisdiction of Aliso Beach and several other South Laguna beaches from the county in 2023. Since then, the city has continued routine maintenance and identified areas for improvement, with Laguna Beach lifeguards now patrolling the area.
Several residents participated in the discussion, emphasizing that the coastal parking lot should continue offering an unobstructed ocean view.
“I’d like you to think of Aliso Beach as South Laguna’s Main Beach Park,” said Ann Christoph, a longtime South Laguna resident and former mayor.
She pointed out one option considered adding a row of parking along the sand, saying, “We used to have another row of parking where the sidewalk is, but it got washed away by ocean waves. The county removed that row and put the sidewalk back, and it’s been so much better because it’s an open look from the sidewalk and parking lot entrance.”
Adding parking stalls on both the coastal and inland sides could be achieved by changing the layout, circulation and landscaping of the parking area, officials said.
Public Works Director Mark McAvoy said some stalls exceed the required 9-foot standard and could be made smaller.
To achieve the maximum number of spaces, 15 Mexican fan palms and a Cook Island pine would need to be removed on the coastal side, which would increase the spaces there by 61. City officials said an effort would be made to save the palms, which could be replanted. Saving the pine might not be possible, they said.
However, another community speaker raised the concern that Aliso Beach is especially popular among families with children, and the slightly wider spots now make it easier to get kids out of their car seats and haul out beach gear.
He said that in tighter spaces, “lugging beach gear will create a lot of scratched paint if cars are closer.”
Mark Christy, who operates the Lost Pier restaurant at the beach and The Ranch, a nearby resort, suggested that if a front row of spaces were added, they could be for compact only, which would keep larger cars away and not cause ocean view obstructions.
Extra spaces in the inland parking lot would also mean removing two sycamore trees and changing the lot’s layout and circulation. Councilmember Hallie Jones questioned the removal of trees in the lot’s west end, and city staffers will take that request into consideration as they work on a design that would add 29 more parking spaces, Perez said.
Jones also asked about the Laguna Ocean Foundation’s vision to restore the estuary at Aliso Beach. In that plan, foundation members have discussed removing some of the area’s parking to give the estuary more space.
Councilmember Bob Whalen said he had spoken with those heading up the restoration plan and said they were not concerned about the city’s effort to create more parking because their project is still several years out, Whalen said.
In the end, Kiff summarized the council’s goals, which leaned toward maximizing parking in both lots and considering adding a row of compact spaces along the front of the parking lot by the sand so the ocean view is not obstructed. They will also consider in their design an area for larger cars at the back of the lot toward South Coast Highway, Kiff said. Grass at the children’s play area that is also used by beachgoers to slough off sandy feet will also remain in the design plans.
McAvoy also suggested adding a centralized walkway in the coastal lot so beachgoers wouldn’t have to squeeze through cars.
In addition to the extra spaces, the parking lots would be repaved, damaged concrete curbs and walkways replaced, and a new LED lighting system installed.
The project would need permits from the Design Review Board and the California Coastal Commission. If approved, construction could begin in early 2026.