CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING
OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
April 21, 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 Adjourned Meeting of the City of San Clemente Zoning Administrator to order on April 21, 2026 at 3:30 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
Brendan Hanley, Planning Technician
2. MINUTES
A. Minutes from the Zoning Administrator Regular Meeting of April 9, 2026.
ZA Atamian received and filed the minutes for the regular meeting of April 9, 2026.
3. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 26-159, Temporary Use Permit (TUP) 26- 136, Circus Vargas 2026, 101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa
A public hearing to request the Zoning Administrator to approve Temporary Use Permit (TUP) 25-085 to operate a circus event at the Outlets at San Clemente from May 8-11, 2026 and May 13-18, 2026. Setup for the event, including temporary circus structures, is from May 5-7, 2026, and breakdown is on May 19, 2026.
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) and §15311 (Class 11: Accessory Structures).
Planning Technician Hanley summarized the staff report that highlighted the following:
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Minutes of the Zoning Administrator Adjourned Meeting April 21, 2026 Page 2 • Site has been used for similar events in the past.
• Estimated Attendance: 300-500 people per show.
• No games of chance, mechanical rides, performing animals, pyrotechnics, alcohol, or outside vendors.
• Site plan includes: Entrance tent, ticket booths, restrooms, management and parking.
• Security: 8-member crew.
• Waste management: 25-member crew.
• Amplified sound limited to inside the tent.
• Lighting limited to the boundaries of the parcel.
Priscilla Iverson attended on behalf of the applicant.
ZA Atamian opened the public hearing and asked the applicant if they would like to make a presentation. Priscilla Iverson affirmed agreement with the staff presentation on behalf of the applicant.
ZA Atamian stated he reviewed the staff report and is familiar with the project. Technician Hanley advised that the event is similar to last year, but the dates are slightly different.
ZA Atamian advised the applicant that there has been an issue with noise and lighting from this parcel reaching residences across from the freeway.
He emphasized the importance of noise mitigation procedures and containing light within the property bouindaries.
There being no further questions of staff or the applicant, ZA Atamian closed the public hearing.
ZA Atamian determined the project Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities) and §15311 (Class 11: Accessory Structures).
Action: The Zoning Administrator adopted Resolution ZA26-007 approving Temporary Use Permit 26-136, Circus Vargas at San Clemente Outlets 2026, 101 Avenida Vista Hermosa, with the following modifications to the Conditions of Approval:
• Modify Condition 7.19 to read: “…this applicant shall limit exterior noise to 65 decibels at the edge of the property on which the event is located, specifically the property line North of the tent location” • Modify Condition 7.20: “String lighting is not permitted pursuant to this event.”
• Add Condition 7.25: “No signage is approved as a part of this permit. Any signage permitted in separate applications shall not be visible from the freeway.”
5. NEW BUSINESS
None.
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Minutes of the Zoning Administrator Adjourned Meeting April 21, 2026 Page 3
6. OLD BUSINESS
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. to a Regular Meeting of the Zoning Administrator, which will be held Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Community Development Department, City Hall, First Floor Community Room, located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
SAN CLEMENTE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
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Adam Atamian, Zoning Administrator
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