March 4, 2026 Planning Commission Minutes
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
PLANNING COMMISSION
March 4, 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; Vice Chair M. Steven Camp; Chair Pro Temp Scott McKhann; Gary McCaughan; Brett Freeman;
Patrick Griffin; and Karen Prescott-Loeffler
Commissioners Absent: None.
Staff Present: Zach Rehm, Acting City Planner
Araceli Mejia, Assistant Planner
Alexia Gruszczynski, Assistant Planner
Gena Burns, Deputy City Attorney
Tamara Tatich, Recording Secretary
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.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. 2026 Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) Update
Staff is seeking feedback on an introduction of the Strategic Implementation Program which lists Implementation Measures (IMs) that the City will carry out to achieve the General Plan’s goals and policies over time. The SIP groups IMs Attachment 4
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2026 Page 2 by element and identifies status, priority, and lead department for overseeing the project or program.
Assistant Planner Alexia Gruszczynski summarized a presentation titled, “San Clemente Overview of the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP).” A copy of the presentation is available by contacting the City of San Clemente Planning Division. The presentation highlighted an explanation and purpose of the SIP to implement measures and provided a timeline; today’s goal is to introduce and receive feedback on the SIP; reviewed a SIP Summary Table by Departments; and closed with a recommendation to provide direction and forwarding recommendations to the City Council via approval of the Resolution.
The Commission noted topics like “Dark Skies” and asked staff to explain the proposed IM “Update the General Plan” and the recommended projects to defer.
Acting City Planner (ACP) Rehm advised the last substantial General Plan update was in 2014, with minor updates each year. The "update" refers to a rewrite of the entire General Plan, to potentially be the 2032 General Plan as forecast in the SIP. There's no state law requiring a full replacement, but certain elements like the Safety and Housing Elements must be updated periodically.
The Commission questioned the deferred list items “support for the 2028 Olympics in San Clemente.” ACP Rehm opined that this is likely to be a bigger City function under the direction of the City Manager or the City Council outside of the SIP process. The Commission cited that the Community Development Department projects for the next five years include: support Miramar Theater rehab, prepare and certify the Local Coastal Program (LCP), and evaluate Inclusionary Housing Program. Staff clarified the purpose of the Inclusionary Housing Program that is within the Housing Element.
The Commission asked about the framework of an In-Lieu Fee Program for the City Council to consider in the SIP. ACP Rehm advised the Commission that InLieu Fees are recommended in both the Inclusionary Housing Program and the Parking Management Plan that will be presented to the City Council for consideration, and that the Parking Management Plan with last December’s comments incorporated will be before the Planning Commission in late April.
The report will also incorporate the California Coastal Commission’s comments received last week. The consultant is currently updating the Plan.
At the Commission’s request, staff reviewed the Historic Resource Survey section and suggested a minor edit to the Short-Term Lodging Unit section for clarification. Commissioners questioned deferring the City Design Guidelines, and staff advised that this task would be considered in budget year 2034 due to funding. Staff advised that the City Council initiated the Gateway Overlay project to be focused on land uses in specific areas near the “gateways” to the city and incentivized hotels and other economic developing in those areas. The Commission asked that the City Council expand on economic development Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2026 Page 3 opportunities to include all of El Camino Real and all major intersections. Staff will add the recommendation to the staff report.
CHAIR COSGROVE MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PRESCOTTLOEFFLER, MOTION PASSED 7-0, TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE
THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE WITH CHANGES
FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT ALONG EL CAMINO REAL BE INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION.