CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
DESIGN REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
OCTOBER 29, 2025
Subcommittee Members Present: Vice Chair Cameron Cosgrove, Members Scott McKhann and Brett Freeman
Subcommittee Members Absent: Chair M. Steven Camp
Staff Present: Principal Planner, Zach Rehm
Senior Planner, Christopher Wright
Assistant Planner, Jessica Gatny
Vice Chair Cosgrove called to order the Design Review Sub-Committee Regular Meeting for City of San Clemente on October 29, 2025.
1. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 25-073, Kenney Residence, 310 Encino Lane A request for the Cultural Heritage Subcommittee to provide a recommendation on a proposal to add a residential structure to the City’s Designated Historic Resources List at 310 Encino Lane.
Assistant Planner Gatny summarized the staff report in a presentation titled, “Kenney Residence Historic Designation, 310 Encino Lane, PHP25-073,” that provided the required criteria for the designation and detailed the background of the property. A copy can be requested by contacting the Planning Division.
Melinda Kenney, the applicant and property owner, stated that the home was purchased in late 2022. There were years of deferred maintenance when they bought it. The owners value preservation and tried to restore the property properly, consulting the right people and sources. The majority of the exterior work performed was maintenance and safety-related. Some improvements recently made include replacing the roof as it was leaking, and the exterior stair and balcony railings, including some stair treads.
Other recent improvements include new awnings, some new exterior doors including the garage door, replacement of traditional brick ribbons in the driveway, a custom copper chimney cap and copper gutters. The landscaping was also updated and many improvements to the interior space were done. They want guidance going forward to make the proper improvements.
The applicant noted that pursuing historic designation is the first step to a Mills Act contract. There was confusion because the house was allegedly on a nonofficial historic properties list, prepared by volunteers pre-dating the 1995 survey.
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Design Review Subcommittee Meeting Minutes October 29, 2025 Page 2 Chair Cosgrove invited members of the public to address the committee:
Public Comments:
• Larry Culbertson, resident and member of the San Clemente Historical Society expressed concerned that the house did not make the list in 2006 and 1995.
He suggested requesting a list of all non-original features, specifying which have been fixed and which remain to be addressed. He also noted that the existing balcony is missing some SCR elements.
• Amanda Quintanilla, resident, stated that the house does not appear historic, and noted the absence of photos from the 30s-80s to guide restoration efforts.
Questioned the qualifications of the original list creators. Mentioned a 12-foot front addition done by the owner without an architect. Concerned that the Spanish elements look new and not like the original design. Questioned the use of Dutch doors, stating they are not typical of SCR architecture.
The Cultural Heritage Subcommittee (CHSC) discussed the project, and made the following comments either individually or as a group:
Noted the property meets the required criteria for inclusion by being over 50 years old and also meeting criterion A and E for its consistency with the SCR style. They mentioned that inclusion on the list of resources commits the owner to preserving the structure, with new rules applying. And, the CHSC clarified that a Mills Act application in the future, separate from the owner’s current request, would involve a site inspection with an analysis of non-original alterations and recommended work to be completed to improve the structure’s integrity with potential tax savings.
That is not a part of the scope of the current application to add the structure to the City’s historic designated structures list.
The Subcommittee recommends that the Planning Commission add the property to the City’s Designated Historic Resources List.
2. NEW BUSINESS
None
3. OLD BUSINESS
None
4. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Members of the audience may address the Subcommittee on matters of public interest which pertain to the City and are not otherwise on the agenda.
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Design Review Subcommittee Meeting Minutes October 29, 2025 Page 3
5. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Vice Chair Cosgrove, seconded by Chair Pro Tem McKhann to adjourn the meeting to the next Regular Design Review Subcommittee meeting on November 12, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., San Clemente City Hall, First Floor Community Room, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Cameron Cosgrove, Vice Chair
Attest:
_______________________________
Christopher Wright, Senior Planner
DRAFT