MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
PLANNING COMMISSION
May 20, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m.
San Clemente City Hall Council Chamber
910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673
Teleconference via www.san-clemente.org
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cosgrove called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of San Clemente to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was offered in person at San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, 92673, and also via live stream from the City’s YouTube Channel.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Griffin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Chair Cameron Cosgrove; Chair Pro Tem Scott McKhann; Gary McCaughan; Karen Prescott-Loeffler; Brett Freeman; and
Patrick Griffin
Commissioners Absent: Vice Chair M. Steven Camp
Staff Present: Christopher Wright, Senior Planner
Zachary Ponsen, Assistant City Engineer
Brendan Hanley, Assistant Planner
Gena Burns, Deputy City Attorney
These minutes reflect the order in which items appeared on the meeting agenda and do not necessarily reflect the order in which items were actually considered.
4. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS/SPECIAL PRESENTATION
None.
5. MINUTES
A. Receive and file Minutes from the Planning Commission Regular Meeting of April 22, 2026.
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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026 Page 2
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER PRESCOTT-LOEFFER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCCAUGHAN, AND CARRIED 6-0, VICE CHAIR CAMP ABSENT, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 22, 2026.
B. Receive and file Minutes from the Study Session of the Planning Commission of April 22, 2026.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN, SECONDED BY CHAIR PRO TEM MCKHANN, AND CARRIED 6-0, VICE CHAIR CAMP ABVSENT, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES FROM THE STUDY SESSION OF APRIL 8, 2026.
6. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. General Plan Consistency Finding For Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fiscal Years 26/27 and 27/28
A request for the Planning Commission to recommend the City Council find the Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 consistent with the Centennial General Plan.
IT WAS MOVED BY CHAIR PRO TEM MCKHANN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PRESCOTT-LOEFFLER, AND CARRIED 6-0, VICE CHAIR CAMP ABSENT, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM 7A, GENERAL PLAN CONSISITENCY FINDING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) FISCAL YEARS 26/27 AND 27/28.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 25-297, Mariner’s Church CUP, 85 Via Pico Plaza
A public hearing for the Planning Commission to consider a request for Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 25-300, Mariner’s Church, to allow a religious congregation to occupy the 26,000 square foot commercial tenant space at 55 Via Pico Plaza, with the purpose of establishing facilities and regular services synonymous with a religious institution.
The Planning Commission will also consider whether the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities), 15332 (Class 32: In-fill Development) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Approvals based on EIR for General Plan, Community Plan, or Zoning).
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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026 Page 3 Chair Cosgrove opened the public hearing and requested the Commissioners disclose any actions related to the project. Commissioner Freeman visited the project site.
Assistant Planner Hanley provided a summary of the presentation titled, “PHP25-297, Mariners Church.” A copy of the presentation is available by contacting the City of San Clemente Planning Division. Staff’s report included the project location; site map; the proposed occupancy and times of service; project analysis of zoning standards, consistency with the General Plan, and community impacts; parking analysis for Pico Plaza; traffic analysis and Conditions of Approval; a projected parking table; and staff’s recommendations.
Commission to Staff Questions:
• In response to an inquiry of traffic mitigation, staff highlighted Condition of Approval 7.17 recommended by Public Works requiring the applicant to mitigate peak traffic demand, specifically for the Sunday West left turn lane at Avenida Pico and Pico Plaza, using measures like additional service times or seating limits.
• Assistant City Engineer Ponsen addressed the Commissions concern with the monitoring the queue length and mitigation by adding the Condition that state the applicant will be responsible for other measures to manage the traffic impacts such as adding services (currently two, with a potential third at 8:30 a.m.), staggering attendee arrival, or limiting seating capacity, and staging trained volunteers and signage for special events. • Assistant City Engineer Ponsen addressed the Commissions concern with future capital improvement needs due to the project’s traffic impacts by stating the Condition includes the applicant’s responsibility for such improvements if not resolved through other types of strategies implemented by staff.
• Staff will employ field observations if complaints or accidents increase.
Chair Cosgrove welcomed the applicant to make his statement. Blake Crane expressed appreciation for staff’s work, and Shorecliff’s Middle School where services have been hosted. Mr. Crane confirmed his agreement with Condition of Approval 7.17.
Chair Cosgrove thanked the applicant and invited the public to speak.
Public Comments:
Lead Pastor Gavin Lamming, resident shared his history with Mariners Church and the endorsement from Shoreline Church.
Chair Cosgrove closed the public hearing and thanked the applicant.
CHAIR PRO TEM MCKHANN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PRESCOTT-LOEFFLER, MOTION PASSED 6-0, TO DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS DRAFT
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026 Page 4
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE RFEQUIREMENTS OF CEQA, AND TO APPROVE PUBLIC HEARING PROJECT 25-297 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25-300, MARINER’S CHURCH, 85 VIA PICO PLAZA, SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
A. Public Hearing Project (PHP) 26-181, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 22-204, Pool RX, 1120 Via Callejon
A public hearing for the Planning Commission to consider a request for Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 22-204, PoolRx, to establish a commercial office for pool products as well as a group instruction use for a rugby training facility.
The site is a 21,000 square foot commercial property within the Rancho San Clemente Business Park.
The Planning Commission will also consider whether the project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities), 15332 (Class 32: In-fill Development) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Approvals based on EIR for General Plan, Community Plan, or Zoning).
Chair Cosgrove opened the public hearing and there were no Commissioner actions related to the project to disclose.
Assistant Planner Hanley provided a summary of the presentation titled, “PHP 26-181, PoolRx.” A copy of the presentation is available by contacting the City of San Clemente Planning Division. Staff’s report included the project background, location and hours of operation; the project’s proposal including rugby training, public food service, fields and off-site parking agreements; summary of the training program; project analysis; parking analysis; noise analysis; and staff recommendations.
Commission Questions to Staff:
• Staff clarified turf area uses and the 18 parking spaces. • The Commission asked staff to give more details to the public food service uses.
Chair Cosgrove welcomed the applicants to give their presentation. Architect James Spencer explained to the Commission how the turf uses for rugby will interact with loading docks used for shipping and receiving stating that incoming shipments will be scheduled around outdoor activities. All the sorting and storing of items is done within the warehouse and will not affect the rugby activities. Mr.
Spencer shared background on rugby history and the future of the sport being in the 2028 Olympic Games. Mr. Spencer introduced Andrea Trufasu, owner of Rhino Rugby.
Ms. Trufasu thanked the Commission for highlighting the safety concerns of the warehouse processes, and stated that the training during the day is in the field.
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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026 Page 5 Her presentation expressed the support of the San Clemente High School Triton rugby team that trains and plays in Ladera Ranch due to the lack of resources in San Clemente. Ms. Trufasu highlighted their regional, national and international presence in the sport; the turf area would be used in the evening since public fields are often occupied for soccer; gave a history of the business; funds from PoolRx supports Rhino Rugby and the athletes; goal is to take young adults to careers and the Olympic stage; support in other organizations through volunteerism; previous events that have been hosted that bring business to the community; looking for home to continue their purpose.
Chair Cosgrove thanked the applicant.
Commission Questions to the Applicants:
• Ms. Trufasu address the question of occupancy stating that the interior of the building can accommodate 15 to 20 athletes.
• Mr. Spencer stated that the turf is more like carpet that placed on top of concrete. Sections are removed for safety vehicles.
• Staff parks anywhere including turf, most of the athletes do not drive and they are transported by Sprinter vans. Daytime use of parking is for cars.
The turf is not a core part of the program.
• There will be no whistles or drills.
• Majority of the activities will be indoors.
• Off-site parking was necessary for code, but they do not expect to use the spaces in the agreements. The zoning for office spaces is a higher ratio for parking, and they’re use for sports would be around 20 spaces. Their footprint has 54 parking spaces.
• The applicants have not connected with the Rancho San Clemente Business Park Association.
Public Comments: None.
Chair Cosgrove closed the public hearing.
• The Commission confirmed that approval from the business park association is not requirement for this approval.
CHAIR COSGROVE MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN, MOTION PASSED 6-0, VICE CHAIR CAMP ABSENT, TO DETERMINE THE PROJECT
IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE RFEQUIREMENTS OF CEQA, TO APPROVE PUBLIC HEARING PROJECT 26-181; A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 22- 204, POOL RX, 1120 VIA CALLEJON, SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
9. NEW BUSINESS
None.
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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026 Page 6
10. OLD BUSINESS
None.
11. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
A. Commissioner Reports
None.
B. Tentative Future Agenda
Written report provided. The Commission reviewed upcoming agenda items.
C. Administrative Permit Report
Written report provided.
D. Staff Reports
A. There were two promotions to announce:
a. Brendan Hanley to Assistant Planner
b. Jessica Gatny to Associate Planner
12. ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:31 p.m. the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., and will be held at the San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers located at 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
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Cameron Cosgrove, Chair
Attest:
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Christopher Wright, Secretary to the Planning Commission DRAFT