Ordinance Number 11171
ORDINANCE NO. 1117
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE LOS RIOS SPECIFIC PLAN (SP78-01)
THROUGH CODE AMENDMENT (CA 23-002) TO ALLOW EATING
ESTABLISHMENTS NO LARGER THAN 1,000 SQUARE FEET (S.F.) AS
ACCESSORY USES AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PERMITTED OR
CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USE AND WITH BEER AND WINE
SERVICE WITH APPROVAL OF AN ACCESSORY USE PERMIT IN THE
HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, AND CLARIFY THE BOUNDARY
LINE BETWEEN THE HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND THE
HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT THAT TRAVERSES THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 31791 LOS RIOS STREET (APN 121-160-17)
AND A FINDING THAT SAID ACTION IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT
FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER
STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15311 AND 15303 (APPLICANT:
31791 LOS RIOS STREET LLC).
WHEREAS, 31791 Los Rios Street LLC, of 31791 Los Rios Street, San Juan
Capistrano CA 92679 (the “Applicant”), has requested approval of Code Amendment (CA)
23-002 to amend the Los Rios Specific Plan (SP 78-01) (the “Los Rios Specific Plan”) to
allow eating establishments no larger than 1,000 square feet (s.f.), with beer and wine
service with food service between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as accessory uses and in
conjunction with a permitted or conditionally permitted use in the Historic Commercial
district and clarify the boundary line between the Historic Commercial District and the
Historic Residential District that traverses the property located at 31791 Los Rios Street
(APN 121-160-17) (the “Project”), which is General Plan-designated Specific
Plan/Precise Plan (SP/PP) and classified as Specific Plan/Precise Plan (SP/PP) on the
Official Zoning Map and regulated by the Los Rios Specific Plan; and,
WHEREAS, 31791 Los Rios Street LLC, is the owner of real property located at
Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 121-160-17 & 20; and,
WHEREAS, on June 20, 2023, the City Council approved the initiation of and
directed staff to conduct an appropriate study for amendment of the Los Rios Specific
Plan (Code Amendment 23-002) (the “Proposed Land Use Code Amendment”); and,
WHEREAS, as the Project is currently proposed, the Applicant seeks approval to
amend the Los Rios Specific Plan to modify certain development standards, boundaries,
and staff is proposing a clean-up amendment; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is being processed pursuant to Section 9-2.301,
Development Review, of the Land Use Code; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 21067 of the Public Resources Code, and,
Section 15367 of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines (Cal.
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Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
2
Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.), the City of San Juan Capistrano is the lead agency
for the proposed Project; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, the City's Environmental Administrator has
determined that the project is categorically exempt from further review under CEQA per
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15311, Class 11 "Accessory Structures" and Section
15303, Class 3 "New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures"; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the Environmental Administrator's
determination pursuant to Section 15061 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), has considered all project environmental documentation; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on
February 28, 2024, pursuant to Title 9, Land Use Code, Section 9-2.302 and City Council
Policy 5 to consider public testimony on the proposed Project and has considered all
relevant public comments and all documents and evidence submitted, including but not
limited to the staff report and attachments, and materials submitted by the applicant; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, at its February 28, 2024, meeting,
ultimately recommended approval of the Project to the City Council with additional
amendments requiring approval of an Accessory Use Permit in order to serve beer and
wine in conjunction with food service at a food establishment and eliminating the
proposed hours of alcohol service given that the hours of alcohol service will be
established through the Accessory Use permit process; and,
WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have
occurred; and,
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2024, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing
to consider this Ordinance and the Project and, following receipt of all written and oral
public comments, the City Council closed the public hearing, considered the evidence
presented, and deliberated.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano hereby finds and
determines that all of the above Recitals are true and correct and incorporates such
Recitals into this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. CEQA. Based upon its review of the entire record before it, the City
Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano hereby finds that pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act and the State CEQA Guidelines that the Project is exempt from
further review under State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15311, Accessory Structures
(Class 11), and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303, New Construction (Class 3). The
project is consistent with Sections 15311 and 15303 because the it includes the allowance
to construct an accessory eating establishment, or restaurant, of up to 1,000 s.f., operated
CA23-002
Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
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accessory to existing permitted or conditionally permitted uses, as well as clarifying other
accessory activities or structures associated with the permitted and ongoing uses. Lastly,
no exceptions to the exemption in State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply. The
City Council hereby directs staff to prepare, execute and file with the Orange County
Clerk-Recorder a notice of exemption within five (5) working days of the approval of this
Ordinance.
SECTION 3. Findings for Approval of Code Amendment 23-002. The City Council
does hereby make the following findings as established by Section 9-2.309(e) of Title 9,
Land Use Code of the City of San Juan Capistrano:
1) The proposed Land Use Code Amendment conforms with the goals and policies of
the General Plan because it provides for the fulfilment of the General Plan’s goals
and policies, including, Land Use Goal 1, which provides, “Develop a balanced land
use pattern to ensure that revenue generation matches the City’s responsibility for
provision and maintenance of public services and facilities” and Land Use Policy 1.2,
which provides, “Encourage commercial, tourist-oriented, and industrial
development that is compatible with existing land uses within the City to improve the
generation of sales tax, property tax, and hotel occupancy tax.” The proposed Land
Use Code Amendment will allow for the development of small eating establishments
accessory to existing use, enhancing the ability for existing and future business
operations, which are developed in accordance with the Historic Commercial District
of the Los Rios Specific Plan, to generate revenue and in turn sales tax.
Furthermore, the clarification of the Historic Commercial district boundary to avoid
bisecting structures allows for clear identification of where uses are permitted to be
established.
2) The proposed Land Use Code Amendment is necessary to implement the General
Plan and to provide for public safety, convenience and/or general welfare because
the proposed amendment achieves the goals and policies of the General Plan for
the reasons listed above.
3) The proposed Land Use Code Amendment conforms with the intent of the
Development Code and is consistent with all other related provisions thereof
because the Project and future development which may be pursued in response to
this Project will comply with the development standards established in the Los Rios
Specific Plan (SP 78-01).
4) The proposed Land Use Code Amendment is reasonable and beneficial at this time
because the City has received an application to amend the development standards
in the Los Rios Specific Plan, subject to approval of all required entitlement.
Furthermore, the addition of the accessory eating establishment would maintain
compatibility with the adjacent neighborhood zoning designation which permits
eating establishments as accessory uses and the adjacent commercial zoning
designation which permits eating establishments as a principal use.
SECTION 4. Los Rios Specific Plan (SP) 78-01.
CA23-002
Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
4
The proposed amendment to Los Rios Specific Plan 78-01, and bearing the file
number as follows:
Code Amendment (CA) 23-002
is hereby approved, and hereby adopted by the City Council and incorporated as part of
this Ordinance as Exhibit A and Exhibit B.
SECTION 5. Severability.
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this Ordinance or any part hereof is for any reason held to be invalid, such invalidity shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part hereof. The
City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano hereby declares that it would have passed
each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
SECTION 6. Publication.
The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause the following summary of this Ordinance
to be published by two (2) insertions in the Capistrano Valley News, a newspaper of
general circulation that is printed, published, and circulated in the City of San Juan
Capistrano.
SECTION 7. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. The City Clerk
shall attest to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be posted
and published in the manner required by law.
SECTION 8. Location and Custodian of Records.
The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which
this Ordinance is based are located at the City Clerk’s office located at 32400 Paseo
Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675. The custodian of these records is the
City Clerk.
SECTION 9. City Clerk's Certification.
The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and cause the same
to be posted at the duly designated posting places within the City and published once
within fifteen (15) days after passage and adoption as required by law; or, in the
alternative, the City Clerk may cause to be published a summary of this Ordinance and a
certified copy of the text of this Ordinance shall be posted in the Office of the City Clerk
five (5) days prior to the date of adoption of this Ordinance; and, within fifteen (15) days
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Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
5
after adoption, the City Clerk shall cause to be published the aforementioned summary
and shall post a certified copy of this Ordinance, together with the vote for and against
the same, in the Office of the City Clerk.
PASSED APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of April, 2024.
SERGIO FARIAS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
CHRISTY JAKL, ACTING CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
I, CHRISTY JAKL, Acting City Clerk of the City of San Juan Capistrano, do hereby certify
that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 1117 which was regularly
introduced and placed upon its first reading at the Regular Meeting of the City Council on
the 2nd day of April 2024 and that thereafter, said Ordinance was duly adopted and
passed at the Regular Meeting of the City Council on the 16th day of April 2024 by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Hart, Campbell, Bourne and Mayor Farias
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
RECUSED: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Taylor
_____________________________________
CHRISTY JAKL, ACTING CITY CLERK
CA23-002
Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
I, CHRISTY JAKL, declare as follows:
That I am the duly appointed and qualified City Clerk of the City of San Juan Capistrano;
That in compliance with State laws, Government Code section 36933(1) of the State of
California, on the 11th day of April 2024, at least 5 days prior to the adoption of the
ordinance, I caused to be posted a certified copy of the proposed ordinance entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE LOS RIOS SPECIFIC PLAN (SP78-01)
THROUGH CODE AMENDMENT (CA 23-002) TO ALLOW EATING
ESTABLISHMENTS NO LARGER THAN 1,000 SQUARE FEET (S.F.) AS
ACCESSORY USES AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PERMITTED OR
CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USE AND WITH BEER AND WINE
SERVICE WITH APPROVAL OF AN ACCESSORY USE PERMIT IN THE
HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, AND CLARIFY THE BOUNDARY
LINE BETWEEN THE HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND THE
HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT THAT TRAVERSES THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 31791 LOS RIOS STREET (APN 121-160-17) AND A
FINDING THAT SAID ACTION IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER STATE
CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15311 AND 15303 (APPLICANT: 31791
LOS RIOS STREET LLC).
This document was posted in the Office of the City Clerk
________________________________
CHRISTY JAKL, ACTING CITY CLERK
San Juan Capistrano, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
I, CHRISTY JAKL, declare as follows:
That I am the duly appointed and qualified City Clerk of the City of San Juan Capistrano;
that in compliance with State laws, Government Code section 36933(1) of the State of
California.
CA23-002
Ordinance 1117 April 16, 2024
7
On the 18th of April 2024, I caused to be posted a certified copy of Ordinance No. 1117,
adopted by the City Council on April 16, 2024, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING THE LOS RIOS SPECIFIC PLAN (SP78-01) THROUGH CODE
AMENDMENT (CA 23-002) TO ALLOW EATING ESTABLISHMENTS NO
LARGER THAN 1,000 SQUARE FEET (S.F.) AS ACCESSORY USES AND
IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PERMITTED OR CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED
USE AND WITH BEER AND WINE SERVICE WITH APPROVAL OF AN
ACCESSORY USE PERMIT IN THE HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT,
AND CLARIFY THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN THE HISTORIC
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND THE HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
THAT TRAVERSES THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 31791 LOS RIOS
STREET (APN 121-160-17) AND A FINDING THAT SAID ACTION IS
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15311
AND 15303 (APPLICANT: 31791 LOS RIOS STREET LLC).
This document was posted in the Office of the City Clerk
________________________________
CHRISTY JAKL, ACTING CITY CLERK
San Juan Capistrano, California
61147.00310\42043855.1
EXHIBIT A
Pages 28 and 29 of the Los Rios Specific Plan (SP 78-01) is hereby amended to read
as follows:
1. Historic Commercial (HC) District.
a. Purpose and Intent:
To provide for low intensity commercial uses that reinforce the rural and historic
character of the Los Rios area.
b. Principal Uses Permitted:
1. Retail sales:
a. Storage of plants and other nursery items;
b. Farmers' market items, such as fruits, vegetables and flowers, provided they
are grown on the site;
c. Paintings, jewelry, leather goods, pottery and similar items, provided they
are crafted on the site.
2. Non-retail uses such as greenhouse, crop and tree farming and wholesale
nursery.
3. Equestrian-oriented uses and activities, such as feed store and saddlery
shop.
4. Park and recreational uses that are passive in nature, such as picnicking,
arts and craft workshops, outdoor cultural performances.
5. Administrative offices, employee meeting rooms, restrooms, storage and a
caretaker’s residential unit.
c. Conditional Uses Permitted:
1. Petting zoos with related ancillary uses and activities.
2. Small animal raising, commercial or non-commercial, limited to small
domesticated species, such as sheep, rabbits, chickens and animals of similar
size. Animal slaughtering or commercial animal raising or breeding shall be
prohibited.
3. The keeping of horses, commercial or non-commercial, as set forth in Section
9-3.620 of the Municipal Code, provided the density does not exceed six horses
per acre and a live-in caretaker resides on site.
d. Accessory Uses Permitted.
1. Eating establishments no larger than 1,000 square feet, in conjunction with, and
clearly accessory to, a permitted Principal or Conditional Use identified in
Sections (b) and (c) above. Eating establishments shall not be greater than the
Principal or Conditional permitted use in size, operation, or patronage. Eating
establishments may serve beer and wine (no distilled spirits) subject to the
issuance of an Accessory Use Permit pursuant to Part 4.E. of this Specific Plan.
61147.00310\42043855.1
e. Development Standards:
Structures, permanent or temporary, shall be designed and sited consistent with
the Site Design Standards of this Specific Plan and comply with the following:
1. Minimum lot size: 15,000 square feet.
2. Minimum frontage: 60 feet.
3. Minimum front yard setback: (one-story) 10 feet.
(two-story) 20 feet.
4. Minimum side yard setback: 8 feet one side & 18 feet total.
5. Minimum rear yard setback: 20 feet.
6. Maximum building height: 15 feet. 30 feet if structure is placed within 100
feet of the westerly property line adjacent to Paseo Adelanto.
7. Maximum building area: n/a.
8. Minimum open area: 90%.
9. Architectural projections: Any portion of a structure attached to and
extending beyond the exterior face or roof of the structure including, but not
limited to, tower elements, chimneys, steeples, awnings, eaves, or bay windows
shall be considered an architectural projection. Architectural projections may
project into any required setback or exceed the maximum building height limit
as specified in the applicable provisions of this section.
10. Parking: To protect on-site and adjacent off-site historic resources and their
character, vehicular parking requirements are considered satisfied by a central
public parking lot in the Los Rios Specific Plan area.
e. Development Processing:
Any proposed structure, commercial or non-commercial, requiring a building permit,
shall be subject to the Development Review Procedures of Part 4 of this Specific
Plan.
f. Supplementary District Regulations:
1. Unless specified otherwise, structures, and uses will be required to meet all
applicable development standards of Title 9, Article 6, Supplementary District
Regulations of the Municipal Code.
2. In instances where beer or wine is served in conjunction with food service at an
eating establishment pursuant to Section (d)(1) above, in addition to any Alcohol
Beverage Control (ABC) fencing/barrier requirements, a physical barrier, such
as a wall, fence or structure shall be erected along the property’s entire Historic
Commercial (HC) District boundary to prevent alcohol consumption from
traveling to the adjacent Historic Residential (HR) District.
61147.00310\42043855.1
Page 47 of the Los Rios Specific Plan (SP 78-01) is hereby amended to read as follows:
ii. Any proposal to relocate a structure(s) to, from, or within the Los Rios Specific Plan
Historic District shall be subject to review by the Cultural Heritage Commission. The
proposed relocation site will comply with Secretary of the Interior’s “Guidelines for
Moving Historic Buildings” and the State Office of Historic Preservation’s “Regulations
for California Register of Historical Resources.”
D. Commercial Core Planning Area. Discretionary review of the Commercial Core Planning
Area shall be undertaken consistent with the requirements of the SPA (Appendix A to this
Specific Plan).
E. Accessory Use Permit.
a. Intent and Purpose.
The purpose of an Accessory Use Permit is to provide a food-related establishment that
is permitted to operate as an accessory use pursuant to Part 3.B.5.c.5. in the Historic
Residential District or Part 3.B.4.d.1. in the Historic Commercial District an opportunity to
seek City approval to serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption in conjunction
with food service. The intent of the Accessory Use Permit review process is to ensure
that the service of alcohol in conjunction with food services does not result in adverse
impacts to neighboring residents and businesses and the historical residential character
of the Los Rios Specific Plan Historic Residential District is maintained.
b. Accessory Use Permit Eligibility.
Only food-related establishments that have previously approved Accessory Use Permits
in the Historic Residential District or new eating establishments in the Historic
Commercial District may apply for a new Accessory Use Permit.
c. Permitted Hours of Alcohol Service.
The allowed hours of alcohol services shall be established on a case-by-case basis
through the Accessory Use Permit review process but in no case shall alcohol service,
including for private events, extend past 10 pm.
d. Review Process.
The review of an Accessory Use Permit application shall be as follows upon submission
of an application in accordance with the requirements of the Development Services
Department.
1. Cultural Heritage Commission.