Design-review panel questions Miramar theater changes as tenant seeks larger event space

San Clemente City planning staff and the Design Review Subcommittee heard proposals July 23 from Wedgwood Weddings and its architect for tenant-driven changes at the Miramar theater and adjoining bowling-alley property, an adaptive-reuse project first approved by the city in 2017.

Jonathan, city planner for San Clemente, said the applicant seeks interior alterations (a bridal staircase, removable demising curtains and added Moorish-style wall arches/fresco treatment) and exterior revisions that would extend a perimeter wall, relocate the primary pedestrian gate to El Camino Real and add a street-facing fountain and a fireplace feature in the courtyard. Jonathan told the committee the changes depart from the 2017 approved plan and therefore need design review input; staff is continuing technical review of egress calculations and traffic line-of-sight at the El Camino Real frontage.

The changes matter, residents and historic-preservation advocates told the subcommittee, because the Miramar theater and the former bowling-alley building are on the city's historic resources list. Larry (public commenter) said he was "shocked" by the scale…