MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
PLANNING COMMISSION
December 18, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m.
San Clemente City Hall Council Chamber
910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673
Teleconference via www.san-clemente.org
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cosgrove called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of San Clemente to order at 6:20 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 Cameron Cosgrove led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Chair Pro Tem M. Steven Camp; Barton Crandell; Chair Cameron Cosgrove; Brenton Davis and Karen Prescott-Loeffler
Commissioners Absent: Vice Chair Gary P. McCaughan, M.D Staff Present: Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner
Gena Burns, Deputy City Attorney
Zachary Ponsen, Assistant City Engineer
Ryan Kim, Senior Civil Traffic Engineer
Tamara Tatich, Recording Secretary
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. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS/SPECIAL PRESENTATION
None.
5. MINUTES
A. Receive and file Minutes from the Planning Commission Regular Meeting of November 20, 2024.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCKHANN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DAVIS, AND CARRIED 6-0, COMMISSIONER MCCAUGHAN ABSENT, TO RECEIVE AND Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024 Page 2
FILE THE MINUTES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20, 2024.
6. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
None.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Camino Mira Costa Pedestrian Refuge Island
Assistant City Engineer Zachary Ponsen and Senior Civil Traffic Engineer Ryan Kim presented a PowerPoint “Pedestrian Refuge Island on Camino Mira Costa near Mira Costa Park.” A copy of the Presentation is on file in the Planning Division.
Assistant City Engineer Ponsen explained that the project is before the Planning Commission to review, provide feedback to staff and approve the project be presented to City Council with or without any modifications.
Assistant City Engineer Ponsen presented a history of the Camino Mira Costa’s development over time; and that local residents, many of which are seniors or families with young children, requested the installation of a pedestrian refuge island due to a high pedestrian use along the street for residents walking to the park, accessing shopping centers, restaurants and other business services; and that the street is also overflow parking for many of the neighborhoods. It was also explained that drivers in the surrounding communities frequently use Camino Mira Costa, making it a highly used street. Assistant City Engineer Ponsen stated that the street is 65’ wide, and that part of the analysis is the time it takes to cross the street, and that there is a worksheet that provides the calculations that determined the number of pedestrians crossing the street is less than 90 to100 per hour during peak usage, which is not high enough to warrant a crosswalk. Therefore, the recommendation is to shorten the distance to cross by installing an island in the median that gives pedestrians a safe-harbor to safely cross the street. It is believed that a raised median will also slow the speed of traffic, and it is recommended that 30’ of red curb be installed to prevent parking where pedestrians are to cross.
There is also a concern with a crosswalk that it creates a false sense of security.
Discussion Summary:
Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024 Page 3 • Commissioners expressed concern that too many signs will result in visual clutter.
• Suggestion of flashing crosswalk, similar to downtown area, whereby staff stated this could happen in the future if there is a need. • Replacing the existing smaller signs with larger signs for better visibility is included in the project.
Chair Cosgrove opened the public hearing.
Public Comments:
Heather Pepper, resident supported the project and stated it would make crossing while walking her dogs to the park safer, and stated that signage is lost due to the high number of cars and RVs parked on the street.
Angie Mascari, Mira Costa Villa resident supported the project, thanked staff for their work on the project, and stated that children and families cross the street often throughout the day.
Daniel Zonca, thanked the staff and commissioners for the opportunity to speak and stated that many seniors enjoying walking every day, but many are too afraid to cross the street to walk to the park and suggested a crossing guard.
Carolyn Nouoty, Seascape Village resident supported the project and stated that there are a lot of young families and seniors would benefit from the refuge island.
Chair Cosgrove closed the public hearing.
Comments/Suggestions:
• The Commissioners supported the refuge island and see this as a viable solution to make the crossings safer.
• Staff expressed concerned with installing rumble stripes because of noise issues.
• Staff preferred installing a stamped red concrete on raised medians rather than installing landscape for budgetary reasons, line of sight issues and long-term maintenance.
Modifications to Recommendation:
• Add street markings such as “x-ing pedestrian” or “crossing ahead” to alert drivers. Staff is to research phrase for the markings to be presented to City Council.
• Add street markings in bike lanes to alert electric bike riders to slow down. • Replace the “no left or u-turn” sign with smaller yellow pedestrian sign. • Keep the double yellow striping in the 10’ crossing area. • Install a sign to advise pedestrians that cars do not stop.
Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024 Page 4
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCKHANN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DAVIS, AND CARRIED 6-0, COMMISSIONER MCCAUGHAN ABSENT, TO RECOMMEND
TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CEQA PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15306 (CLASS 6, INFORMATION COLLECTION) AND 15301.K (CLASS 1, EXISTING FACILITIES) OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES; TO
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLAND
ON CAMINO MIRA COSTA WITH THE ABOVE-REFERENCED MODIFICATIONS, AND TO ALLOW STAFF TO CONTINUE TO REFINE THE RECOMMENDATION.
B. iPad IOS and Application Review
City Planner Jonathan Lightfoot advised the Commissioners that the staff member assigned to present the application review of the new iPads being distributed this evening is ill and unable to attend; and the intent is that Commissioners would be able to access meeting materials, General Plan and other documents, and their City emails more efficiently. City Planner Lightfoot suggested any Commissioner in need of a one-on-one with staff to please reach out before the next meeting.
Implementation to phase out paper materials is January, 2025.
10. OLD BUSINESS
11. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
City Planner Lightfoot thanked everyone for being in attendance recognizing the time of year.
City Planner Lightfoot gave an update on the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Grant:
1. Lidar Survey of the City that will provide a better understanding of the bluffs, canyons edges and other features. The fly-over is expected in the next month.
There will be public announcements through the City’s media channels.
2. Principal Planner Zach Rehm is working with the consultant on a parking study, and were present at the Glitz and acquired 127 intercept surveys from the public in attendance. In January 2025, the first low-season parking count will occur after Martin Luther King holiday weekend, and the peak will be done midJuly 2025. Surveys will also include the downtown businesses.
City Planning Lightfoot announced that City Hall will be closed at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and reopen at 7:30 a.m. Monday, January 6, 2025.
Chair Cosgrove announced that he would not be present for the January 22, 2025 meeting.
A. Tentative Future Agenda
B. Administrative Development Permit Report
Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024 Page 5
12. ADJOURNMENT
THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION, IT WAS
MOVED BY CHAIR COSGROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCKHANN, AND CARRIED 6-0, COMMISSIONER VICE CHAIR CAMP ABSENT, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:15 P.M. TO THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD IN-PERSON ON JANUARY 22, 2025, 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, Chairman
Attest:
Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner