These minutes will be considered for approval at the Planning Commission meeting of 09-18-2024.
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
PLANNING COMMISSION
August 21, 2024 @ 4:30 p.m.
San Clemente City Hall Council Chamber
910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673
Teleconference via www.san-clemente.org
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cosgrove called the Special Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of San Clemente to order at 4:35 p.m. The meeting was offered in person at San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, 92673, and also via live stream from the City’s YouTube Channel.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Cosgrove led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Barton Crandell; Scott McKhann (arrived at 4:35 p.m.); Vice Chair M. Steven Camp; Karen Prescott-Loeffler; Chair Pro Tem Gary P. McCaughan, M.D. (arrived at 4:36 p.m.), Chair Cameron Cosgrove
Commissioners Absent: Brent Davis
Staff Present: Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner
Gena Burns, Deputy City Attorney
Tamara Tatich, Office Specialist
These minutes reflect the order in which items appeared on the meeting agenda and do not necessarily reflect the order in which items were actually considered.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 23-196, Amendment to Master Plan for Development of Cornerstone Community Church
The Planning Commission will consider a request to demolish an existing garage, remodel an existing office, and construct a new 3,278 square feet multipurpose building with a 3,040 square feet unfinished basement to replace modular structures located at 702-710 Avenida De La Estrella within the Residential Medium (RM) Density Zoning District. The project requires an Amended Minutes of Special Planning Commission Meeting of August 21, 2024 Page 2 Conditional Use Permit (CUP 23-197) and an Amended Development Permit (DP 24-208) related to these changes to the previously approved master plan for the church campus.
The Planning Commission will also consider whether the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities), §15302 (Class 2:
Replacement or Reconstruction), and §15303 (Class 3(c): New construction of a nonresidential building under 10,000 square feet in an urbanized area).
Chair Cosgrove opened the public hearing.
Under Commissioner disclosures, Commissioner Camp stated he visited the site and met with the architect. Chair Pro Tem McCaughan stated he visited the site.
Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner, narrated a PowerPoint Presentation entitled, “Cornerstone Church Amendment,” dated August 21, 2024. A copy of the Presentation is on file in Planning Division.
In response to Commission questions, City Planner Lightfoot indicated on-street parking was not included in the counted spaces; no specified use for the unfinished basement; clarified request for extension of time to complete the buildout; and identified existing non-conforming items.
Rob Williams, architect and church elder, explained the master plan; and fundraising for next phase and request to extend final completion to 2033.
During discussion, the Commission discussed the potential use of the basement, acknowledging that it was incorporated as a functional structural support element for the multipurpose building due to the sloping topography; supported the architectural design; favored a consistent grade between the multipurpose building and parking lot; supported an extended time frame; and support for the project.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCKHANN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PRESCOTT-LOEFFLER, AND CARRIED 6-0, COMMISSIONER DAVIS ABSENT, TO ADOPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO:
1. Determine the project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities), §15302 (Class 2: Replacement or Reconstruction), and §15303 (Class 3(c): New construction of a nonresidential building under 10,000 square feet in an urbanized area; and
2. Adopt Resolution PC 24-019, approving Amended Conditional Use Permit 23-197 and Amended Development Permit 24-208, Amendment to Master Plan for Development of Cornerstone Community Church, subject to conditions of approval provided within Exhibit A of Attachment; with a change condition 1.6 to adjust the date of completion for the multipurpose room from 2032 to 2038.
Minutes of Special Planning Commission Meeting of August 21, 2024 Page 3
5. ADJOURNMENT
THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION, IT WAS
MOVED BY CHAIR COSGROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CRANDELL, AND CARRIED 6-0, COMMISSIONER DAVIS ABSENT, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 5:04 P.M. TO THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD IN-PERSON ON AUGUST 21, 2024, AT 6:00 P.M., AT THE SAN CLEMENTE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 910 CALLE NEGOCIO, 2
nd FLOOR, SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA.
Respectfully submitted,
Cameron Cosgrove, Chair
Attest:
Jonathan Lightfoot, Secretary of the Planning Commission