San Clemente : Shopping Center Plan Rejected on 3-2 Vote

The City Council has narrowly rejected a proposed multilevel shopping center but agreed to waive future fees if the developer returns with revised plans.

“This is a quality project, but I think it’s too intense a development” for a 2.43-acre lot, Councilman Kenneth E. Carr said.

The San Clemente Retail Plaza was proposed for a site on Camino Los Mares across from San Clemente General Hospital. It would include nine Mann theaters, three restaurants, retail and office space and a multilevel parking garage. The plan would have 317 parking spaces on the site and agreements for parking at a nearby medical office during peak hours.

Councilman Robert D. Limberg said the adjoining parking lots would be poorly lit and inappropriate for use at night, when the center would attract the most customers.

After the 3-2 vote against the plan, Mayor William C. Mecham said, “This is a major loss for the community, and it’s also a major loss for trying to attract other quality projects of this nature.”

But Gary Nogle, architect for the project, said after the hearing that “the mayor has given me renewed hope that something could be worked out.” The developers, San Clemente Medical Plaza Ltd., probably will reapply if the council will meet with them and outline specific changes needed.

In other business, the council on Tuesday approved an ordinance allowing senior projects to be built in all zones except single-family residential areas. It also approved a mobile concession stand, which will be run by Canale Foods Inc., for the north beach area.