SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Planners Approve Renovations at Plaza

The Planning Commission has approved most of a $2-million plan to renovate an entire historic downtown block across from Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The unanimous vote Tuesday means that work on El Peon Plaza, a key commercial property in the heart of the city, could begin in about a month.

Plans call for transforming the complex’s three aging buildings into a pedestrian mall, complete with skylights, interior walkway and 5,000-square-foot restaurant at the southwest corner of Ortega Highway and El Camino Real.

Steve Nordeck, one of the project partners, said he hopes to award construction contracts in early October and have work finished by St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, when the swallows make their annual return to the mission.

Unless an appeal to the City Council is filed, the project will proceed. It has already won the backing of the city’s Design Review Committee and Cultural Heritage Commission.

Planning commissioners had few questions Tuesday night as they looked over architectural drawings showing some of the exterior changes to the high-profile property. The project aims to preserve the character of the brick buildings, which will be reinforced to meet earthquake codes.

In January, Nordeck and Richard O’Neill, one of the county’s wealthiest men, won the exclusive right to bid $1.1 million to the city for the property. Escrow is expected to close in a few weeks.

Besides the addition of skylights and an interior walkway, a pedestrian colonnade is slated for the south side of the complex. Some windows and doors will also be modified.

The buildings that make up El Peon complex total about 17,500 square feet. The complex also has a 3,200-square-foot courtyard.

When renovated, the complex will lose 1,100 square feet of building space.

Plans for the courtyard, next to the proposed restaurant, have not yet been submitted to the city.

Nordeck said the complex will have room for nine to 13 tenants, including the restaurant.

He said the complex will have a mix of specialty shops that cater to local residents.

“The whole goal will be to provide new and improved retail establishments for the people of San Juan Capistrano first,” Nordeck said. “This is for the people of San Juan first, tourists second.”

Nordeck seeks an independent operator for the restaurant space. He said he was considering four types of fare, including “meat and potatoes.”

And he said he’s dropping the name, El Peon.

Paul Farber, general partner and property manager of the nearby Franciscan Plaza, said he welcomes the new project.

Farber said that O’Neill would likely seek tenants who stay open past 5 p.m., the time at which many downtown retail shops close.

“I see it as a good addition to the downtown,” Farber said.