The proposed building at 614 Avenida Victoria is back in front of the City Council on May 4, 2010 for approval and make no mistake, it is just as big as it ever was. Mike Luna, the architect on this project, has been very quick to offer that the building is being built to code but we feel strongly that he is misrepresenting the facts in an effort to get this project approved quickly. The City has just embarked on a General Plan update process with the selection of over 20 residents, who were chosen to set a new vision for San Clemente’s future. Mr. Luna knows that four story buildings with rooftop party decks will almost certainly not be a part of that vision and he is using every opportunity to circumvent this process and get his personal monument in the Pier Bowl approved now. Several residents of the Pier Bowl plan to show the City Council not only that this building is not being built to the current code (even with the General Plan amendment that is being added in the middle of the General Plan Update process specifically for this building) and is almost exactly the same building that was previously proposed and denied. Mr. Luna has manipulated the plans to reduce the height and Floor Area Ratio without reducing the scale of the building at all. He has ignored building requirements and convinced the Planning Commission to approve this project even as the Commission has spoken out against similar projects in other parts of San Clemente. (See Planning Commission Minutes from April 7, 2010 - Kramer Subdivision). This architect and this project are trying to take us back to a time when personal agendas instead of following the rules was the basis for getting a project approved in San Clemente and it should not be allowed.

I encourage all residents of San Clemente that want to preserve the look and feel of our Mediteranean Village to attend the City Council Meeting on May 4th at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. We need to let the Councilmembers know that it is unacceptable to allow one outspoken architect to slip in a project at this time, because he knows it is not in keeping with San Clemente’s future and if not approved now, will ultimately be denied.