Council continues appeal of Hanson Hotel rooftop amid neighborhood noise concerns and calls for design review

The San Clemente City Council on Wednesday continued an appeal hearing of the Hanson Hotel project and directed staff to work with the applicant and nearby residents on proposed rooftop design changes rather than immediately finalizing approvals.

The Council’s action follows repeated neighborhood concerns about potential noise and lighting from a proposed rooftop restaurant and deck. Residents said the fifth‑floor roof deck, as approved earlier in the permit process, could create new noise and visual impacts on adjacent properties and sought a design-review subcommittee review before the project returns to the council.

City staff and the applicant told the council they have held meetings with nearby homeowners and the project architect and that those discussions have produced possible mitigation strategies. Among the…