San Clemente Coast Project OKd

The San Clemente City Council on Wednesday approved a developer’s scaled-back plan for Marblehead, one of the last privately owned parcels of undeveloped Southern California coastline.

Lusk Co.’s concept, approved on a 5-0 vote, calls for 358 homes and about 750,000 square feet of commercial development while preserving 80 acres as open space that would include striking canyons, wetlands and sage scrub.

Residents and environmental activists who for two decades have railed against development of the 250-acre property now say Lusk has a better, though not perfect, plan.

Resident Maryann Holmes asked who would be responsible for the 4.5 miles of walkways included in the plan: “What guarantees do the residents of San Clemente have that these areas will be open forever?”

City Manager Michael W. Parness said there would be no way for a homeowners association or other private group to deny public access.

The Irvine-based firm’s earlier proposal to build 412 homes, an outlet mall and retail center on the site--once proposed for the Richard M. Nixon library--was rebuffed by the California Coastal Commission in March.

One commissioner admonished Lusk Chief Executive Jim Johnson to “try to be a little less greedy,” and the company withdrew that plan.

City officials said the developer has worked with the commission staff to shape the latest proposal, which now must win approval of the state agency.

The residential portion not only avoids the canyons and wetlands but also is pushed back from the coast, which the commission urged.

The project’s commercial portion would include an outlet mall, a retail center and a large movie theater. The commercial acreage was reduced from 60 acres to about 50 to preserve a canyon that bisects the property.

San Clemente’s city staff has recommended approval of the project, which would boost the city’s tax revenue. The commercial development at Marblehead would be expected to provide about 50% of the city’s sales tax revenue in coming years, Parness said.

In exchange for city approvals, the developer also agreed to provide $1.5 million for North Beach improvements, $1 million for downtown improvements, $1 million for a new senior center and $250,000 to expand the library.