Tami Estrada, San Clemente
It’s election time and there is a lot of debate on how, when and where San Clemente should grow.
I was recently reminded that change can be good and actually enhance our city if done while maintaining our unique culture and small town appeal.
Sunday, The Cellar Wine Bar and Restaurant opened it’s doors and gave San Clemente patrons a warm hug. The Cellar poured champagne, wine and shared tasty treats to thank its customers for business and celebrate their 5 year anniversary. The Cellar is one of many establishments on Del Mar that exemplify great change – adding diversity and yet maintaining a cozy feel. We can boast that SC has a unique Wine Bar (and Cheese Monger), other restaurants such as The Shore with their music, along with classics such as Carbonara and Fisherman’s (the pier!) are fine and special establishments that add to SC character but more importantly contribute to our community by participating in fundraising events (SCHS, Casa Romantica) etc.
I choose to support those businesses that support SC and honor our sleepy surfer but sophisticated vibe.
I’ll not be supporting gaudy digital signage and outlet malls or any type of major expansion until our smaller, privately held SC owned business are thriving.
I hope our elected civic leaders follow a similar thought—that will be deciding factor in my vote.
Great letter Tami. These local businesses are not the enemy and they all support what San Clemente is – a sleepy Spanish village by the sea. What I see as a shame is that it’s only a few people (who carry way more influence than they deserve) that are championing this campaign against any growth. Eggleston and Mann (two names that pop up a lot) seem to think that they can bully this town and sadly, they believe this because they have gotten away with it in the past. Stand up to these bullies San Clemente. Stop letting their checkbooks run the show.
Well said Tami!
Well then Tami, since there are nor have there ever been any gaudy digital signs planned you are all set.
However, since you used that Sound bite in your piece it means that you have bought into the lies. You may want to actually find out the truth. I think that the truth is actually very positive.
Great letter Tami, I too love all the places you mentioned downtown, as well as many others, and I believe most of them support Dahl and Mortenson, there are a TON of Mortenson banners down there. Sandy is correct, there will never be digital jumbotrons, so it’s a waste of everyone’s time to keep talking about. Charles Mann couldn’t think of anything better to spend tens of thousands of dollars on, so he picked “jumbotrons” out of his magic hat and went with it. I’m offended as a resident how he is insulting my intelligence by mailing me lies about signs that he knows, and I know will never be there. How dumb does he think we are?? I’m going to side with our downtown businesses, many of our residents, and our chamber of commerce and vote for Mortenson and Dahl.
SC Voter and Ms Ob— EVERYone knows that WHATever the developers want they will get with Urban Sprawl Dahl and Mortensen. With Dahl we have a decade plus track record of dim witted bad development from the strip mall Lab to the toll road to frankly Marblehead BK annex and on and on…. His assistant Mortensen is a chip off the ol block!
Hamm and B.Baker#1 are the obvious answer for the kind of SC we love.
What does the marblehead developer expect in return for ONLY allowing Mortensen and Dahl signs on his prime freeway junk mall land? Hmmmmmmmmm— seems like SC Voter still can’t answer the questions…..
Haha- the SC “we” love?? Baker takes care of himself. Saves the back 9 of his private golfclub, has a 4 story monster of a home blocking others views, yet wants a 2 story ban downtown. Baker is the KING of “do as I say, not as I do” No more than 2 stories- unless it’s HIS home!! And he could care less if he blocks anybody’s view with HIS home. Imagine SC if Baker had his way: no carnival, no farmers market, trash all over the beach, parks without bathrooms, how sad. Glad he is CONSISTENTLY outvoted by our other council members. 4 years was enough, get Baker out of there and back at his golf club!! Oh wait–Is he still welcome there???
SC Voter— I support ALL of B. Baker #1′s votes. He saved us tens of thousands in wasted funds— taxpayer funds!
3 stories downtown? You’re kidding right? You want SC to look like downtown HB? Or worse?
Who cares if he golfs?
Is he outvoted at times— YES—-We have a VERY bad city council– We have for many of the 56 years I have lived here. For instance, the hero of the council is govt. pension collector Urban Sprawl Dahl who has taken over 100k from the toll road company while sitting on our council and voting on transportation issues AND refusing to support the vast majority of citizens against the worthless freeway.
Time for a change— B.Baker#1 and Chris Hamm!!!!
I didnt say I wanted 3 stories downtown, nice try Waterman. I said the rules change when it comes to Baker’s personal interests. He thinks 3 stories are bad downtown, but not HIS 3 story home that blocks residents views. Did I say I disliked golf? Nope. I’m a great golfer actually. I just find it ridiculous when Baker acts like he did something great for SC by saving the back 9 at HIS course, and I find it funny how it backfired on him. Was it for us residents? He acts like it was. Ask him how he feels about that course now…
Time for a change is correct! Get Baker out of there! And no need to even discuss his little copycat buddy that lacks any ideas or thoughts of his own, I just feel sorry for that Chris Hamm.
GIve Baker a taste of his own medicine, give him a NO vote!
SC Voter—- If Urban Sprawl Dahl and Mortnsen are elected– you can count on 3 stories downtown, support for the toll road, support for the leaky dangerous nuke plant and probably the Lab again or some other similar mess. At least admit it.
^^^^ Just wow. You forgot to add “and we will all die.”
Exaggerate much?
BC,
There already are 3 story buildings on del mar. there’s even a 4 Story building!!!! WHAT!? 4 Stories you say??? NO!!!! We’re turning into HB!!! Who in the world would approve and build 4 stories???? This monster was an out of town “developer”.
His name was Ole Hanson and he founded San Clemente.
Not that the Council has any say in the SONGS restart, but it is a FACT that Mortenson said he wouldn’t support restarting SONGS unless it was proven safe “beyond a scientific certainty.” At least admit that.
He cares about the safety of our residents. Which is why he would have supported a ban on smoking in public parks. What do you think has killed more SC residents in the past 30 years? Smoking related deaths (i.e. lung cancer) or Nuclear radiation related deaths?
Btw, Baker voted AGAINST BANNING SMOKING IN PUBLIC PARKS. No common sense.
Dave– Am I exaggerating?
Dahl supports ALL pro development measures as far as I can see. 3 stories is going to be before the council soon enough. The Planning Comm had it. I am sure Dahl will too.
Dahl refused to take an advisory vote condeming the leaky and spewing nuke plant.
Dahl supported the Lab mess.
Dahl supports the toll road.
what’s left?
I’m with you about Dahl primarily in regards to the toll rd stuff. I just thought that your post came across as a little cryptic. Fact is, whoever wins will not change the foundation and landscape of what San Clemente is. We are talking city council here. This particular thread is about growth while maintaining a small town feel. I believe it’s necessary to have some growth and city support for small business here. For the most part these are local owners who hire residents of San Clemente who provode services and goods for the rest of the citizens of our town. I don’t want a Baker type who simply says “no” to everything. The scare tactics of us possibly becoming a H.B. is B.S.. Never gonna happen even if all members of the council were Dahl types.
I disagree Dave— SC becomes an HB by the death of 1000 cuts– we need a B Baker #1 vote on that council to prevent it. Right now we are close to losing a common sense margin on the council.
3 stories downtown would be a joke—Dahl and Mortensen will do that and more– we all support local retailers and industry for sure– but not at the expense of the beauty of this place and many of us fear Dahl and Mortensen will do just that!
Tammy,
You “all” might support local retailers and industry, but the overwhelming majority of these local retailers and industry owners SUPPORT MORTENSON. Why is that? Are the stupid? Why wouldn’t the support Baker – he’s had 4 years to prove to them just how much he support them. And they’ve responded, by resoundingly NOT SUPPORTING BAKER.
The proof as the say, Tammy, is in the pudding.
Tammy, I think it’s an agree to disagree thing for us. I don’t think that third floors are going to pop up all over town. And if some did(don’t think it will), what is the big issue? Would it be that much of an eyesore? A Spanish style 3rd floor? Is it about the view? Who’s view? I honestly think that the building across from Billy’s is kind of nice looking. Again, I think it’s an agree to disagree thing. I also think it’s more of a talking point than a reality because I just do not believe it will happen.
Dave— Tammy’s death by 1000 cuts comment is accurate. 3 stories are inappropriate for the feel of the downtown, the outlet mall is trash, the LAB was view destroying, the toll road would’ve ruined the place—we put a freeway thru the town, a sewage treatment plant and storage place at our coast hwy entrance and a leaky outdated nuke plant still leaks and spews radiation that frankly no one clearly understands the long term danger from….the city history of bad hotels, thrift shops, odd density and weekly vacation rentals in R1 hoods etc etc etc—-I could go on and on—
my point?
3 stories matters and electing real stewards instead of chamber fast buck dullards to our council will help.
Ron,
The toll ain’t gonna happen so to discuss the results of a rd that’s not going to be here is pointless. The people of this city have made their voices loud and clear in that regard. Also, didn’t the coastal commission also nix that deal? I’ll claim some ignorance to some of the details, but at this stage I see no chance of it happening.
Would you please explain why it is a Spanish style 3rd floor would be inappropriate for the feel of downtown? In fact, what in your opinion is the “feel” of downtown? And which owners here are suddenly going to add a 3rd floor to a downtown that already struggles in regards to local business? Would not seem to make a lot of business sense financially to invest even more dollars into an area that struggles to make ends meet.
I will say that I am on the fence with Marblehead. Whoever it is who actually owns the dirt should be able to develop so long as it meets the criteria of San Clemente. If it’s a draw to outsiders of San Clemente, would that not mean more revenue for the city? Maybe it would even draw more to the downtown area. I don’t think it would mean some massive traffic nightmare because it’s not that huge of a space.
I have had quite a bit of small talk with people who have mentioned the Nixon Library not happening here. Most I have spoken to have said it was a mistake. I personally believe that was also a mistake because it is a pretty big draw for Yorba Linda. Translation – revenue that we could have had here.
This town will never be H.B. or Newport or Laguna for that matter. We are too small and have no border towns to create that type of city.
The toll road will be a threat for the next 20 years– if you don’t understand that you don’t know the process. Go down Del Mar one day to Dahl’s toll road office and ask them about it– it will open your eyes.
3 stories downtown is the camel’s nose under the tent….look at downtown Huntington…remember 2 stories there? I do.
Marblehead was nearly open space sold to the Trust for Public Lands (TPL) we lost that one in my view the city council wanted houses and a trash mall there….
Death by 1000 cuts.
Development is GOOD!!! But it needs to be good development.
B. Baker #1 and Hamm understand this…..cant wait to vote!
I hope whoever we elect works hard to keep our town with that small town feel! That’s why I get concerned when I read about Mr. Dahl and his cohort being so pro toll road and commercial development– this town should be more than just money!