Council appoints three to Planning Commission after interviews; Kemp, Freeman and Griffin named

The San Clemente City Council appointed Steve Kemp, Brett Freeman and Patrick Griffin to the Planning Commission following candidate interviews and a ranked‑ballot process.

Applicants who interviewed for the open seats stressed experience with local design standards, balancing growth with preservation of community character, and public engagement. Steve Kemp, a current commissioner, described his prior service and leadership on the design review subcommittee; Brett Freeman noted experience with residential redevelopment and community outreach; Patrick Griffin emphasized recent community involvement and familiarity with city planning materials.

Councilmembers discussed the workload of the Planning Commission and the design review subcommittee, and asked staff to improve scheduling of applicant interviews so candidates would not need to sit through multiple panels. The council used ranked ballots to produce its top candidates and then voted to appoint Kemp, Freeman and Griffin by recorded council action.

Staff will schedule an onboarding and provide commissioners with pending project files and the commission work plan. Councilmembers noted the commission’s role in upcoming discussions related to coastal projects and the city’s master plan.