These minutes will be considered for approval at the Planning Commission meeting of 2-4-2025.
MINUTES OF THE STUDY SESSION
OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
PLANNING COMMISSION
November 20, 2024 @ 5:00 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 Study Session of the Planning Commission of the City of San Clemente to order at 5:00 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.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Barton Crandell; Scott McKhann; Chair Pro Tem Gary P.
McCaughan, M.D., Chair Cameron Cosgrove and Brent Davis (arrived at 5:05 p.m.)
Commissioners Absent: Karen Prescott-Loeffler
Staff Present: Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner
Zach Rehm, Principal Planner
Christopher Wright, Senior Planner
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.
A. Local Coastal Plan projects funded by a Coastal Commission Grant The California Coastal Commission awarded a $1.5 Million grant in July of 2024, and the grant agreement was executed in October. The agreement covers several tasks, listed below, which staff will preview for the Planning Commission. These tasks are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
• Task 1: South Orange County Sand Source Investigation • Task 2: Complete LCP Implementation Plan, including a Parking and Transportation Demand Management Plan as well as a Lidar survey and geotechnical analysis
• Task 3: Targeted Land Use Plan Amendment(s) to incorporate findings & recommendations
City Planner Jonathan Lightfoot explained the purpose for the session and summarized the grant agreement that was awarded in October for the project that includes:
Minutes of Planning Commission Study Session of November 20, 2024 Page 2 • Local Sand Source Investigation: $800k
• Staff Support: $305k
• Geotechnical: $100k
• Parking/Mobility: $250k
Overall purpose is to advance the LCP inclusive of the Land Use Plan (LUP) and the City Implementation Plan (CIP) that is not yet complete. The grant is focused on the CIP that is projected to be presented to the Planning Commission the end of 2025 or early 2026.
City Planner Lightfoot reviewed an abridged version of the “Local Sand” presentation that was presented in the October City Council meeting. The objective is to identify areas close to San Clemente where sand can be borrowed.
City Planner Lightfoot continued with the “Staff Support” presentation that requests a reimbursement of City and contracted staff time dedicated to the project.
Questions to staff included the ability to utilize sand and dirt from other projects rather than paying to export. Principal Planner Rehm responded that the City requires a lot of sand that is from any qualified source through a SCOOP permit, and advised of a Coastal Advisory Committee meeting with three speakers presenting onshore and offshore sand opportunities is being held in the City Council Chambers tomorrow, November 21, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. An audio file of the meeting will be available on the City’s website for those unable to attend.
A video of the “LIDAR” process was presented before Senior Planner Wright summarized the “Geotechnical” presentation inclusive of:
• Aerial data
• Bluff analysis
• Study effect of existing process
• Recommendation of policy and standards
• Develop checklist for applications
Senior Planner Wright reported that a consultant will compile historical analysis with rate of erosion data that will be a guide to develop better policies and regulations for a Coastal Development Permit. The aerial data can also be used to create a scale model of the City.
Commissioners requested staff to forward the video or copy of a previous Study Session on Sea Level Rise. Principal Planner Rehm directed Commissioners to the Sea level Rise Vulnerability Assessment that is found on the City’s Coastal Planning webpage.
City Planning Lightfoot answered Commissioners’ request for an update on Casa Romantica by explaining two phases: 1) given it was declared an emergency, the priority was to stabilize and later inform the California Coastal Commission (CCC) that Minutes of Planning Commission Study Session of November 20, 2024 Page 3 emergency work is being performed; 2) is to follow up the with the CCC to obtain a Coastal Development Permits to replace plants, patios and other structures.
Senior Planner Wright followed up stating that Public Works is conducting an Alternatives Analysis and explained the process and objectives of the project’s restoration. A discussion on future uses ensued, which will be conveyed to the Public Works Director.
The last part of the grant is the “Parking and TDM (Traffic Demand Management) Study,” which was presented by Principal Planner Rehm. The study will facilitate economic development by developing parking options and alternatives. Vehicles with 360° cameras will drive specified routes to collect parking data. Studies will be conducted twice to capture off season (January) and peak season (July) scenarios.
The consultant will evaluate parking ratios for policy options and will develop an economic analysis of parking and mobility solutions. The consultant will collaborate with staff to translate data into GIS mapping that staff can maintain.
Commissioners expressed a desire for data to be granular enough to evaluate issues like parking and overflow from employers/employees into time limited parking areas or residential streets. Principal Planner Rehm noted that recommendations will address specific hours for parking and enforcement, options for paid parking, shared parking agreements, offsite employee parking areas and suitability of a parking structure. City Planner Lightfoot added that the final report will include a pro forma alongside recommended actions so that the City has a clear understanding of the operations and infrastructure costs associated with the various recommendations.
The consultant will interact with the Planning Commission and Downtown Business Association; conducting outreach via surveys from the public as part of their contract; and reach out to other local cities on parking plans that are comparable. City Planner Lightfoot added that the Land Use Plan (LUP) supports parking alternatives such as bikes, EVs and other vehicles; however, there isn’t an objective standard in place to accomplish this. The parking study can provide data to establish such a standard.
Copies of all the presentations made in the Study Session are on file in the Planning Division.
Minutes of Planning Commission Study Session of November 20, 2024 Page 4
ADJOURNMENT
IT WAS MOVED BY CHAIR COSGROVE TO ADJOURN THE STUDY SESSION UNTIL ITS NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON DECEMBER 18, 2024, AT 5:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Cameron Cosgrove, Chair
Attest:
Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner