SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Height of Franciscan Plaza Plan Rejected

The developer of the controversial Franciscan Plaza in the city’s historic downtown area will ask the City Council for help to avoid restrictions imposed this week by the Planning Commission.

Paul Farber, developer of the Camino Capistrano project, said Wednesday he had filed an appeal with the council to overturn Tuesday night’s decision by the commission. The commission voted 2 to 1 to approve the second phase of the project if Farber omits plans for a third floor and makes major modifications to the plaza’s parking structure lighting.

“I can’t live with these restrictions,” Farber said.

Commissioner Carolyn Nash called the project “too tall, too dense and too massive. It does not meet code and does not meet the general policies of our city’s general plan.”

Phase two of the Franciscan Plaza proposes a restaurant, retail and office space on a half-acre parcel. Part of the project calls for the restoration of the 19th-Century Avila Adobe, which would become the restaurant. The first phase, which was completed in December, included a shopping plaza, five movie theaters and a multilevel parking structure at the corner of Camino Capistrano and Verdugo Street.

Farber said he is frustrated with the commission over the height of the project. He asked for a variance on the city’s 25-foot height limitations downtown. Phase two proposes an average height of 32 feet.

“I’ve been working with the Planning Department for two and a half years on the third floor, because of the way the property descends toward the back,” Farber said.

But it was the project’s height that bothered Commissioner Mary Jane Forster.

“I think it’s an absolutely beautiful project, but I can’t support a third story,” she said.

Commissioner Wyatt Hart voted to approve the project with the variance for the third floor. Commissioner Gil Jones abstained, and Commissioner Jim Erickson was absent.