09-0630_CRA_Minutes_Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES
June 30, 2009
Joint Workshop
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
PLANNING COMMISSION
Mayor Nielsen called the Adjourned Regular ,Joint Meeting of the San Juan Capistrano
City Council, Community Redevelopment Agency and Planning Commission to order at
5:10 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
ROLL CALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS & COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PRESENT:
Sam Allevato, Tom Hribar, Laura Freese, Mayor pro tem Dr. Londres Uso and
Mayor Nielsen
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: ,Tim Neely, Ginny Kerr, James Mocalis,
Robert William, Vice -Chair Gene Ratcliffe, and Chairman Sheldon Cohen.
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Bruce Tatarian (excused absence)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chairman Cohen led the Pledge of Allegiance
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
DISCUSSION ITEM
C1. PROPOSAL BY STROSCHER G3 LLC TO CONSTRUCT A MIXED USE
RETAIL/RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL PROJECT GENERALLY LOCATED
ON A 3.18 ACRE PARCEL ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF
ORTEGA HIGHWAY AND EL CAMINO REAL (APN 124-170-12, 14, 15, 16)
(GRETCHEN STROSCHER THOMPSON) (400.60) - No action taken.
Grant Taylor, Assistant Community Development Director summarized the staff report.
Written Communication:
Eric Altman, Chamber of Commerce, June 30, 2009, felt proposed development
will greatly enhance the gateway to the downtown, generate employment, tax
revenue, and help increase the economic sustainability of the community.
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Presentation and introduction of the proposed development by team members of the
development team who contributed a power point presentation with the project
background and overview:
• Gretchen Stroscher Thompson, Applicant
• Yvonne Bean, Marriott Hotel
• Ron Sakahara, Architect (Lee & Sakahara)
• Mike Imlay, Landscape Architect (Land Concerns)
Public Comment:
• Larry Thomas, representing Chamber of Commerce, spoke supporting the
project and submitted a letter from Eric Altman, President of the Chamber of
Commerce.
• Art Guevara, City resident, felt the hotel project will greatly enhance the entrance
to the City and will bring business to the downtown.
• Patrick Crowley, City resident, agrees that the City needs a hotel, but felt that the
project is too dense for the location; and made recommendations for the project.
• Robert Cardoza, Design Review Committee, felt project has merit and is in a
prominent location; and gave his views on the gateway, freeway realignment,
views from bridge on Ortega Highway, landscaping, height and mass of project.
Planning Commission Comments:
• Construction should use phasing.
• Plans should identify the ultimate Caltrans configuration.
• Plans should identify drop off and pick up areas.
• Building height is a concern, four stories over 35 feet.
• Possibly design one building instead of two buildings.
• Provide plaza area at the corner of El Camino Real and Ortega Hwy.
• Building mass is a. critical issue.
• Hotel is a great asset but must be done right.
• Proposed hotel location is acceptable.
• Project design and direction is good.
• Prefer lighter colors.
• Need authentic details including tile, wrought iron, roof, etc.
• Hotel could be stepped down to reduce massing.
• Residential component over retail may be problematic.
• Need landscaping along El Camino Real and in hotel parking lot.
• Project exceeds development standards excessively, large variances.
• Provide view simulations to show relation to the Mission.
• Encourage applicant to provide model and/or graphics.
• Hotel could be an enhancement for the downtown.
• Prefer darker colors.
• City has only one chance to do the project right.
• Need considerable design review by the Design Review Committee.
• Can address hotel mass with design.
• Mixed use residential and retail mass is problematic.
• Need view simulations for all angles and surrounding properties.
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• Need to provide a pedestrian core and corridor to the downtown.
• Supports City providing [and to the developer.
• Two points of access to the underground garage is problematic.
• On-site and exterior circulation requires study.
• Although mid-range room price project must look upscale.
• Avoid value engineering and do not give up amenities.
• Install story poles of building areas early.
• The hotel is critical but the retail and residential components are not.
• Architecture cannot mimic Mission but should compliment Mission.
• Proposed parking is a concern.
• Concerned with archaeological and cultural resources on-site.
• City should amend 35 foot height limit or design around height.
• Project area is entry to the downtown.
• Most important project the City will ever process.
City Council/Community Redevelopment Agency Comments:
• Location and timing of hotel proposal is good.
• 1-5 and Ortega Highway interchange timing is good.
• Hotel project could be a catalyst to help the downtown.
• Would like to see varying rooflines to break up massing.
• A 144 room hotel is acceptable.
• Building height and massing are the biggest concerns.
• Need view simulations from all angles to include the Mission, Basilica and bell
tower.
• Two-story mixed use has too much massing and setback is too little.
• Enlarge and soften plaza area at Ortega Hwy. and EI Camino Real.
• Need view simulations including ultimate Ortega Hwy. 11-5 configuration.
• Parking is critical.
• Retail component is acceptable.
• Residential component may be problematic.
• Project may require a parking structure.
• Support providing land to the applicant.
• Support widening Spring Street.
• A four-story hotel may be problematic, a three-story hotel is supportable.
• Move retail component away from EI Camino Real, larger setback.
• Install 8 to 10 story poles early in project.
• Community Redevelopment Agency may assist project financially.
• Support four-story, height not a concern, massing can be addressed.
• Supports proposed Planned Community zoning designation.
• Architecture must be compatible with the Mission.
• If the applicant obtains excess Caltrans property, install an entry way on it.
• If applicant does not obtain excess Caltrans property, install an entry way near
freeway on private property.
• Important for the applicant, City Council, Planning Commission and staff to work
together.to complete the project.
• The hotel must be exquisite, but must get done.
• Parking structures are very costly.
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• Prefer three-story, 35 foot height but not financially realistic.
• Support giving excess land for more parking area.
• Stepping down building height.at edges would reduce massing.
• The hotel could be the focal point of the downtown.
• May have to delete the residential component.
• Support local developer who cares about the City.
• Concern with two-story mixed use close to the Mission.
• Hotel height with setbacks and below grade not as problematic.
• Need to reduce potential impacts on view corridor.
• It is critical to revitalize the downtown.
• Residential component may need to be deleted.
• Need more retail to achieve critical mass.
• Need to attract outside shoppers and retain local shoppers.
The project must look upscale.
• The proposed bell tower adds interest.
• Need various roof lines to break up the massing.
• Step down building height closer to Ortega Highway.
• Parking should be based on district need not on individual project.
• Support parking structure next to the Playhouse.
• Support parking along Ortega Highway and Spring Street.
• The Spring Street setback is the least critical.
• Need view simulations from all angles including Mission Flats area.
• Lets all work together.
ADJOURNMENT
City Council: Mayor Nielsen adjourned the City Council and Community Redevelopment
Agency meeting at 8:40 p.m. to Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session;
and then 6:30 p.m. for the public Business Session, in the City Council Chamber.
Planning Commission: Chairman Cohen adjourned the Planning Commission meeting
to Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. for the Regular/B si s Session, in the City
Council Conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
GRANT TAYLOR, ` bMMISSION SECRETARY
Approved: July 21, 2009
ATTEST:
THOMAS W. HRIBAR, CHAIRMAN
ubmittgd,
ACTINGIGITY CLERK
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