Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Subdivision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission backs tentative parcel map for 143 N. La Esperanza subdivision
Summary
The San Clemente Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend city council approval of a tentative parcel map to split a 21,536-square-foot lot at 143 N. La Esperanza into three parcels; no new development is proposed now and the project was found CEQA-exempt under the minor land division rule.
The San Clemente Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the City Council approve a tentative parcel map to subdivide 143 North La Esperanza into three residential lots.
City staff told commissioners the 21,536-square-foot site is zoned Residential Low and that the proposed parcels — 6,074, 6,144 and 9,314 square feet — comply with the city's subdivision and development standards. Staff recommended the commission find the project categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines, section 15315 (Class 15, minor land divisions), and adopt resolution PC 25-002 recommending approval to the City Council.
The project, labeled the Esperanza Subdivision, was first approved by the city council in 2018 but the prior planning entitlement expired after no final map was recorded within the 24-month approval window, staff said. No new development is proposed as part of this action; future construction on any of the newly created lots will require separate development permits.
City staff said the tentative parcel map package shows the lots are developable and meet the Residential Low zone standards. "The lots are compliant with the zoning code subdivision standards and the conceptual designs in the tentative parcel map package show that the lots are developable," staff said during the hearing. Staff also recommended amending Condition of Approval 1.2 to reflect current standards.
Applicant Adam Alcaraz, representing the current owner, said the owner, Edward Sanchez, could not attend because of his advanced age and that the subdivision was earlier approved but lapsed amid processing delays and the COVID-19 pandemic. "This plan was already approved through the city council public hearing months before, but due to COVID and a couple other issues with the engineer and time went through and unfortunately didn't get extended," Alcaraz said.
Commissioners asked technical questions about easements, setback compliance for the existing house on the parcel and minor lot-area differences from the original approval; staff said any size variations were only a matter of a few square feet and did not affect compliance. Commissioner Kemp confirmed the minimum lot area standard (6,000 square feet) is measured as a gross area.
Commissioner Crandall, who said he participated in the 2018 review, moved to adopt the CEQA finding and recommend approval of tentative parcel map 2018-137 (Esperanza Subdivision), with the updated Condition 1.2. The motion was seconded; the commission approved the recommendation unanimously.
The commission record shows the Planning Commission adopted resolution PC 25-002 recommending City Council approval; the matter will proceed to the City Council for final action.
