City Hall property may be looked at for possible housing developments
By Jim Shilander
The San Clemente Planning Commission voted Wednesday to authorize the city’s planning consultant to review the zoning designations of seven sites around the city, including the land occupied by city hall as part of the review of the city’s new General Plan.
Primary planner Jeff Hook told the council that the city was considering the possibility of moving the remainder of its offices over to the same Calle Negocio offices, where the city planning and engineering offices are located. The current City Hall, or at least the property, could be used for housing, offices or other development, Hook said. The city was currently looking to add areas for mixed use, medium density and high-density developments.
Other properties under consideration for rezoning include empty parcels of land across from city hall, located at 101 N. La Esperanza. Hook said that parcel could be difficult to develop because of a number of underground utility cables in the area, as well as its close proximity to Interstate 5. A property facing similar issues was a large empty parcel on Calle Frontera. The property that currently houses the Shorecliffs Golf Course clubhouse was also going to be examined, as the club wished to examine the possibility of perhaps putting market rate senior housing there.
Residents living near City Hall said they would prefer not to see the property developed as housing, due to concerns over traffic, parking and the stability of the neighboring hillside. Other residents voiced concern over the inclusion of the vacant property at 1300 N. El Camino Real, which residents considered undevelopable due to access problems.
Hook said the current timeline would have the General Plan go before the San Clemente City Council in June for approval.
