Planning Commissioners Recommend Approval of New Ralph's Center
By Jonathan Volzke, San Clemente Times
A divided Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended the City Council approve a 68,000-square-foot development that will bring a new grocery store, retail shops and restaurants to southwest San Clemente.
The panel heard experts’ presentations, public testimony and debated the Village Courtyard proposal for more than three hours before voting 4-2 to recommend the City Council approve the project, which includes a new Ralph’s grocery store and a three-level parking deck fronted by shops and restaurants. The top floor of the development in the 900 block of South El Camino Real provides 180-degree ocean views, but blends into the area because it tucks against the freeway off ramp.
Commissioners admitted the project is large, but said it fits the vision city leaders and residents developed during an 18-month process. They also praised the outpouring of public support for the project. Planning Commissioner Lew Avera said the commission received 891 cards urging approval of the project, and just nine in opposition.
Additionally, about 20 people spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, with 15 supporting the project and five against it. Those who supported it said it will bring a much-needed updated grocery store to the area, as well as kick in an overall improvement of shops and businesses. One resident brought in a board of photographs showing 16 properties for sale, 19 for rental or lease and another 10 vacant lots between Avenida Pico and the Carl’s Jr. at the south end of town.
The vote actually seemed closer than the final tally. After the first five commissioners spoke, the straw poll was at 2-3 for approval. If Planning Commission Chairman Michael Kaupp had not supported it, the vote would have been left 3-3. As it was Kaupp said the project, although nice, might be too big but the overwhelming public support — more than he’s ever seen, he said — pushed him to support it.
Commissioners Avera, Nesa Anderson and Mitch Thomson joined him in supporting the project. Commissioners Julia Darden and Brenda Miller opposed it, saying it was out of character with San Clemente's village feel. Although the crowd had thinned from about 30 when the hearing started, applause filled the chambers when the final vote was cast.
Project owner Rick Skillman, who also owns the Rib Trader, did not address the commission during the hearing but said afterward the Planning Commission’s support was important. Although critics said the project is large, Skillman said the 40,000-square-foot grocery store is actually smaller than current industry standards, and overall, the 70,000-square-foot project is small for a retail center.
He said the site demanded the design because of its long frontage and positioning against the freeway. But it won’t be obtrusive, he said. “There’s no impact on the citizens,” Skillman said. “The beauty of this project is that it creates ocean views without taking any away.”
Skillman said work on the project, pending council approval, could begin as quickly as September or as far out as two years, depending on several factors.
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I think it's great for people in the south end of town to have a nice place to shop. Rick is keeping would be customers local and they won't have to use much fuel. See he's thinking green. and with that much construction the local LICENSED and INSURED contractors will benefit as well when money goes back into the community everybody wins. Rick has a true vision for the furture of San Clementy's future economic recovery helping locally one step at a time.
Good--- we need it-- it's in the right place-- a rare example of a quality SC development choice---- now if the north beach lab mess and the marblehead trash mall would just go away....
We are close to Ralph and we can't wait for the project to be finished.
Planning commission members need to learn to stop talking when they have nothing new to say. Possibly they should have a timer, limiting them to five minutes.
Some commissioners would obviously gain if they could learn to discipline their minds, and they should attend training classes. We would all gain.
Obviously there are only basic and simple requirements to become a planning commissioner. More skills and training should be demanded.