RESOLUTION NO. 25-85
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING A ZONING AMENDMENT TO TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE AND AN AMENDMENT TO THE MARBLEHEAD COASTAL SPECIFIC PLAN TO MODIFY STANDARDS AND PROCESSES RELATED TO SHORT-TERM LODGING USES, INCREASE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF HOTELS AND MOTELS CITYWIDE, AND IDENTIFY THE HOTEL SITE ON THE OUTLETS PROPERTY AS A LANDMARK BUILDING SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL HEIGHT ALLOWANCES WHEREAS, Title 17 of the San Clemente Municipal Code establishes zoning regulations, development standards, and procedures intended to guide land use and development in accordance with the City’s General Plan; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the Marblehead Coastal Specific Plan is to implement the City’s General Plan and be responsive to the goal of preserving San Clemente’s unique atmosphere, historical identity, and significant natural features; and WHEREAS, Objective I of the Marblehead Coastal Specific Plan is to provide for a variety of land uses within the Specific Plan area capable of generating significant new tax revenues to the City; and WHEREAS, on July 20, 2004, the City Council adopted Resolution 04-61 approving an amendment to Site Plan Permit 99-16 for the Marblehead Coastal Commercial Development and in so doing, established the intent that the theater and the hotel buildings were to be architectural landmarks of the project; and WHEREAS, per Title 17, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance are necessary to maintain its effectiveness as a regulatory and informational document and to ensure its consistency with the General Plan, adopted specific plans and State law. Zoning amendments are also necessary to provide for the implementation of the City's General Plan; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Council to amend the Marblehead Coastal Specific Plan to provide incentives to cause the development of the approved hotel on the Outlets property, which is one of the last undeveloped commercial sites in the City, and generate significant new tax revenues consistent with the objective of the Specific Plan, which implements the General Plan; and WHEREAS, the initiation of a zoning amendment is a preliminary procedural step that enables staff to prepare draft amendments for public review, Planning Commission recommendation, and future City Council consideration; and WHEREAS, on May 20, 2025, the City Council considered a staff report, public comments, and directed staff to initiate zoning amendments to extend the amortization period for the amortized STLUs, increase development potential of hotels and motels City-wide through zoning code enhancements or other special exceptions, and expand the allowed areas or capacities for STLUs, including the option for a limited-term expansion related to the 2028 Olympics or other major regional events; and WHEREAS, at the June 3, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to present the May 20, 2025 initiation of zoning amendments for reconsideration, specifically regarding the direction to extend the amortization period for the amortized STLUs; and WHEREAS, based on significant public comment received at the June 3, 2025 meeting and subsequent discussion among City staff, at the regular June 17, 2025 City Council meeting, staff presented options to refine and refocus the City’s efforts more on hotel development opportunities, especially in zoning districts where those uses are already allowed, and less on facilitating the continuation of amortized STLUs; and WHEREAS, on June 17, 2025, the City Council reconsidered its direction on the May 20, 2025 initiation of zoning amendments, considered a staff report and public comments, and directed staff to initiate zoning amendments as described below.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente does hereby find, determine and resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City Council direction to staff on May 20, 2025 regarding the initiation of zoning amendments is hereby rescinded and revoked.
SECTION 2. As directed at its June 17, 2025 meeting, the City Council hereby initiates a zoning amendment to Title 17 of the San Clemente Municipal Code to:
Increase development potential of hotels and motels City-wide through zoning code enhancements or other special exceptions, beyond the zoning modifications currently contemplated as part of the Gateway Overly.
Expand the allowed areas or capacities for STLUs, with a focus on non-residential areas, such as mixed-use and commercial zones, and explore opportunities for a limited-term expansion related to the 2028 Olympics or other major regional events in such zones as well as residential zones.
SECTION 3. That staff is hereby directed to initiate an amendment to the Marblehead Coastal Specific Plan and carry out required environmental review to establish additional height allowances for the hotel building on the Outlets property that are consistent with the established height allowances for the other landmark structures within that development, including the theater building. Due to the significance of this matter and its alignment with broader City economic and land-use planning priorities, the City Council directs that the proposed amendment to the Marblehead Coastal Specific Plan bypass the Planning Commission review process and be brought directly to the City Council for consideration and action, consistent with applicable provisions of the Municipal Code and State law.
SECTION 4. That staff is hereby directed staff to maintain the status quo ante in processing applications for STLU to STAR conversions on a first-come, first-served basis in the order in which such applications are deemed complete, not from the date upon which they are submitted and apply separation requirements consistent with the Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________________, _______.
ATTEST:
___________________________ __________________________
City Clerk of the City of Steve Knoblock, Mayor of the
San Clemente, California City of San Clemente, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 25-85 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on the _______ day of _______________________, _________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of _________________, ________. __________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
___________________________
Elizabeth A. Mitchell, City Attorney
Attachment 1