The intent and purpose of this chapter is to establish a specific plan for the downtown area pursuant to the authority of Article 9, Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the California Government Code. It is recognized that there is a need for a comprehensive planning program to address the unique issues associated with the community's downtown area and that this need is best served through the establishment of a specific plan for the downtown. The Downtown Specific Plan contains goals and policies, downtown design guidelines, land use districts and development standards all of which form the development regulations for the specific plan area. All other ordinances and sections of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code shall also apply to the downtown specific plan area, unless such standards are inconsistent with the provisions of the specific plan, in which case the specific plan shall apply.

As market trends and needs change from time to time, it may be beneficial to incentivize or to limit certain uses in the Downtown. Review and changes, if any, to permitting requirements for different land uses may be subject to annual review and approval at noticed public hearings by the Planning Commission and City Council. (The "permitting requirements" referred to herein relate to local entitlements such as Conditional Use Permits, Administrative Use Permits, and Temporary Use Permits and do not relate to or affect coastal development permit requirements which are subject to the provisions of Chapter 25.07.) As applicable, changes to permitting requirements must continue to adhere to the "Special Findings Required for Certain Uses" section of the Specific Plan due to their potential impact on the character of the Downtown. Changes to these permitting requirements require an LCP amendment.