CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
DESIGN REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
MARCH 25, 2026
Subcommittee Members Present: Chair M. Steven Camp, Vice Chair Cameron Cosgrove, and Member Scott McKhann
Subcommittee Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Andy Hall, City Manager
Adam Atamian, Community Development Director
Zach Rehm, Acting City Planner
Christopher Wright, Senior Planner
David Carrillo, Lead Project Planner
Jessica Gatny, Assistant Planner
Alexia Gruszczynski, Assistant Planner
Chair Camp called to order the Design Review Sub-Committee (DRSC) Regular Meeting for City of San Clemente on March 25, 2026.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Receive and File Minutes from the March 11, 2026 Regular Meeting There being no changes to the March 11, 2026 Meeting of DRSC, the minutes were received and filed.
2. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 22-427, Wood Residence, 104 W. Avenida Cadiz A request to consider an existing unpermitted 543 sq. ft. living room addition, an increase to the height of the existing garage roof, and changes to the front facade, including a new entry porch with steps, a new window, new garage door, and new exterior siding. The subject property is adjacent to a historic residence.
Assistant Planner Gatny summarized the staff report.
The DRSC discussed the project, and made the following comments either individually or as a group:
• Wrap the front siding around each corner, approximately 6’ along the west elevation & enough to fully encompass the window on the east elevation. • Consider a stucco finish for the chimney in lieu of the proposed brick. • Provide dimensions for the garage door on the floor plans.
The DRSC forwarded the project to the Planning Commission for consideration.
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Design Review Subcommittee Regular Meeting Minutes March 25, 2026 Page 2 B. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 25-289, 111 La Ronda Townhome Subdivision A request to construct a 31-unit multi-family residential development on vacant land located at 111 La Ronda, under the City’s Lot Consolidation Program, and the State Density Bonus and Accessory Dwelling Unit Law.
Lead Project Planner Carrillo summarized the staff report.
The DRSC discussed the project, and made the following comments either individually or as a group:
• Each unit should have a well-defined main entrance and distinct building elevations to further reinforce individual identity through – the current design is box-like.
• Improve building height variation throughout the project. • Consider a cottage architectural style instead of a more generic style. • Improve the layering of landscaping to further improve unit identity. • Minimize the amount of roof eyebrows.
• Supports the use of a variety of materials.
• Consider how the landscaping interacts with site elements such as retaining walls and planters.
C. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 26-131, Parklet Design Standards A request to consider City Council recommended changes to the City’s Parklet Design Standards.
Assistant Planner Gruszczynski summarized the staff report and provided a presentation on updated Parklet Design Standards recommended by staff.
Acting City Planner Rehm discussed the potential process for the Parklet Design Standards to be implemented. The transition should be scheduled around a Public Works street resurfacing project on Avenida Del Mar, potentially the end of summer. Community Development Director Atamian provided additional context and suggested a few alternative times the new parklet standards could be introduced, pending the decision of City Council to continue the program or end it July 1.
There were public comments for this item, which are addressed below.
Chris Wood made the following comments:
• Expressed concerns about the size of the deck related to the tenant frontage.
• Blocking neighbors that are not restaurants, which creates visibility issues.
The parklets should remain contained within their frontage area. • Retailers are struggling due to the excess of outdoor dining areas. • Parking issues.
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Design Review Subcommittee Regular Meeting Minutes March 25, 2026 Page 3 • Encouraged consideration of restaurants with outdoor dining to not be granted additional outdoor dining space with the parklets. • Encouraged conversations with business owners.
• Unsupportive of proposed design and current design.
Kathy Ward made the following comments:
• Concerns about circulation and signage.
• Addressed the history of COVID and establishment of parklets and why it worked originally.
• The number of spaces allotted to parklets should be reduced. • Avenida Del Mar has a strict design guideline that should be adhered. • Parklets must be within designated parking spaces.
• Concerns with an excess of outdoor dining opportunities. • The parklet cap should be adjusted.
• Review of parklet designs should be taken to the Planning Commission. • Expressed concerns for enforcement on the parklets.
Wayne Eggleston made the following comments:
• Staff should take additional time on the design after an extension of the program.
• In favor of the parklets and would like to see changes that remove the “flea market” atmosphere.
• Should lower the parklets and reduce the size of them. • Prefers concrete planters instead of wood.
• No overhead lighting.
• No signs on the parklets.
• Reduce the number of accessory items that impede the vertical space of the parklet.
• Reduce the number of parking spaces granted to the parklet program.
Amanda Quintanilla made the following comments:
• Submitted complaint about Coastal Cowboy outdoor dining area within public right-of-way.
• Planters should be taken care of. Plants need to be kept in good condition. • Bike racks are unnecessary.
• No signs on the parklets.
• Concerned with a bar scene expanding on Avenida Del Mar. • Parking safety concerns.
• No heaters.
• Decrease the size of parklets.
• Discriminatory that parklets are only allowed for restaurants.
Sherman Fowler made the following comments:
• Lack of communication between business owners and the City, should offer a service that allows the City to communicate with the business owner. • Code Enforcement should enhance their citations.
• Concerned with parklets and the Olympics in 2028.
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Design Review Subcommittee Regular Meeting Minutes March 25, 2026 Page 4 Andy Hall made the following comments:
• COVID streamlined this process and it was never designed fully in the beginning.
• Staff is trying to augment this situation and working within changing State laws.
• Suggested the cable rails like the ones along the beach trail. • Suggested a design that is implemented into the sidewalk and does not provide a raised deck surface.
• Scale of the parklets may be too large for Avenida Del Mar. • Careful of doing something permanent that may lead to bigger problems down the line.
Greg Ward made the following comments:
• Parklets were never designed to be cleaned underneath. Rats and cockroaches are residing in the area under the parklet. • Consider washing the deck surface by providing a deck surface that would allow for that.
• Parklets have 3 ½ spaces, which is really 4 spaces, and not just 3 spaces.
The DRSC discussed the project, and made the following comments either individually or as a group:
• Possibility for each parklet to be reviewed by DRSC.
• Create a consistent parklet design that compliments the downtown areas. • Parking issues could be assisted if restriping to perpendicular parking stalls were considered on Avenida Del Mar.
• Suggestions for enhancement in enforcement standards to mitigate issues with nonconforming parklets.
• Create a cohesive roadmap for the parklet operators when required to remove the parklets and rebuild them to the new Parklet Design Standards. • Consider the location of temporary kiosks.
• Consider a Master Plan for Avenida Del Mar and how parklets and other features are addressed (i.e., restaurants, parking, retail, parklets, kiosks). • Consider a single post or cantilevered umbrellas which should be natural in color.
• Lights could be solar and under the railing.
• Natural colors should be used for the parklets, where the materials should match exactly to the standards provided.
• Signs should incorporate a Spanish design.
• Bike racks should be included but not golf cart parking. • Consider the parking requirements and standards that are affected by the Parklet Program. This can be initiated with parking enforcement. • Clip the corners of the parklet to reduce the overall size.
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Design Review Subcommittee Regular Meeting Minutes March 25, 2026 Page 5 • The parklet barrier should be transparent to allow visibility through the parklet and towards the neighboring businesses. The material should be wood with cable.
• Consider a full discussion by the Planning Commission to provide the City Council with a comprehensive overview of the program.
3. NEW BUSINESS
None
4. OLD BUSINESS
None
5. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None
6. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved to adjourn the meeting to an Adjourned Design Review Subcommittee meeting on April 1, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., San Clemente City Hall, First Floor Community Room, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA.
Respectfully submitted,
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M. Steven Camp, Chair
Attest:
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Christopher Wright, Senior Planner
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