CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
March 5, 2026
San Clemente City Hall
First Floor Community Room
910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, California 92673
1. CALL TO ORDER
Zoning Administrator (ZA) Adam Atamian called the Regular Meeting of the City of San Clemente Zoning Administrator to order on February 19, 2026 at 3:07 p.m. The meeting was held in the First Floor Community Room of City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Staff Present: Adam Atamian, Zoning Administrator
Zach Rehm, Acting City Planner
Jessica Gatny, Assistant Planner
Tamara Tatich, Administrative Assistant
2. MINUTES
A. Receive and file Minutes for the February 19, 2025 Regular Zoning Administrator Meeting.
ZA Atamian received and filed the Zoning Administrator Regular Meeting Minutes of February 19, 2025.
3. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP)25-543, MEP25-568, 204 Calle Sonora, Buri Addition
A public hearing to consider a request for reduced side yard setbacks to accommodate a new first-floor entry door with staircase and the partial enclosure of an existing second-floor balcony. The project also includes a first-floor addition with a new bathroom, a new second-floor exterior balcony with a spiral staircase to a new roof deck, and replacement of an existing rear attached patio.
The Zoning Administrator will also consider whether the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities).
DRAFT
Zoning Administrator Regular Meeting March 5, 2026 Page 2 Assistant Planner Gatny summarized the staff report in a presentation titled “Buri Addition, Minor Exception Permit 25-568/PHP25-543, March 5, 2026,” a copy of which can be requested by contacting the Planning Division. The presentation highlighted the property location, scope of work overview, proposed plans and elevations, and project Findings. The additions are designed to remain outside the front yard setback, which is already non-conforming, and comply with height and lot coverage limits. The requested setback reductions fall within the 20% allowable limit under minor exception permits.
Staff introduced architect Leo Burke who was present, and the property owner Kendra Buri who attended via zoom.
ZA Atamian opened the public hearing and welcomed the applicants to make a statement. Mr. Burke stated that there was a struggle with the balcony and increasing the dining room area. Ms. Buri stated that they did their best to work within the limitations of the front yard setback that is already non-conforming.
ZA Atamian thanked the applicants and reviewed the non-conformities with staff and determined there is an existing encroachment on both the front and side yard. Mr. Burke provided structural explanations to justify the need for certain encroachments, including the enclosure of a balcony supported by beams and the creation of a more visible and functional front door access.
ZA Atamian closed the public hearing and stated the requested setback reductions fall within the 20% allowable limit under minor exception permits; the project aligns with the General Plan and land use policies, supporting high-quality design and retention of established residential neighborhoods; the existing nonconformities are acknowledged, but the additions do not worsen these significantly; the applicants engaged neighbors, received letters of support, mitigating concerns about negative impacts; and the project would not adversely affect public health, safety, or welfare.
Action: The Zoning Administrator determined the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline §153021; and approved Public Hearing Project 25-568, Minor Exception Permit 25-568, 204 Calle Sonora, Buri Addition, subject to the Conditions of Approval.
B. Public Hearing Project (PHP)25-524, MEP25-559, 234 W Canada, Unit 1, Jones Bathroom Addition
A public hearing to consider a request to reduce the 5-foot required side yard setback by 1-foot to construct a bathroom and closet addition on the first floor of an existing triplex. The addition will be located entirely beneath an existing balcony.
DRAFT
Zoning Administrator Regular Meeting March 5, 2026 Page 3 The Zoning Administrator will also consider whether the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities).
Assistant Planner Gatny summarized the staff report in a presentation titled “Jones Bathroom Addition, Minor Exception Permit 25-559/PHP25-524, March 5, 2026,” a copy of which can be requested by contacting the Planning Division.
The presentation highlighted the property location, proposed plans, elevations, a site plan, and project Findings for a two-story tri-plex built in 1953 within the Coastal Overlay. The existing balcony was found to exceed allowable encroachment limits (40% of the side elevation), requiring modifications to reduce overall encroachments. Staff noted the addition does not increase building height or lot coverage and maintains front and rear setbacks and the structure is not legally non-conforming due to an unfinalized 1999 permit related to balcony replacement.
ZA Atamian opened the public hearing and welcomed applicant and architect Chris Foerstel to make a statement. Mr. Foerstel stated the west side is encroaching one foot into the setback, near the location of a previous staircase and balcony and that the proposed addition is under the existing second-floor balcony. Mr. Foerstel proposed to reduce the balcony encroachment while constructing the addition keeps the project within allowed limits.
ZA Atamian reviewed the non-conformities with Mr. Foerstel that included clarifying the width of the balcony, details on the bathroom and explanations on the encroachment. ZA Atamian stated that this neighborhood has narrow setbacks that are typical and consistent with the multifamily nature of the area.
ZA Atamian emphasized the need for clarity on the legal status of the existing balcony and the importance of addressing this in the building permit process.
ZA Atamian closed the public hearing and stated that he found the addition modest and non-detrimental to the neighborhood character or neighboring properties; and added a Condition of Approval requiring the applicant to modify the balcony to ensure total encroachments do not exceed 40% of the side elevation or 24 feet.
Action: The Zoning Administrator determined the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline §153021; and approved Public Hearing Project 25-568, Minor Exception Permit 25-568, 204 Calle Sonora, Buri Addition, subject to the Conditions of Approval with a modification of Condition 4.3 to read: “The applicant shall modify the second-floor balcony to ensure that total encroachments on the west elevation do not exceed the 40%, or 24 feet length, of the ground floor façade limitation, pursuant to SCMC
17.24.080(B) (Encroachments into Setbacks and Height Limits, Maximum Length of Encroachments) unless the applicant can provide evidence or documentation of the legality of the deck.”
DRAFT
Zoning Administrator Regular Meeting March 5, 2026 Page 4
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Tentative Future Agenda Report
None.
6. OLD BUSINESS
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Zoning Administrator Atamian adjourned the Regular Zoning Administrator meeting to be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Community Development Department, First Floor Community Room, located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
SAN CLEMENTE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
_____________________________________
Adam Atamian, Zoning Administrator
DRAFT