Residents urge council not to reopen short‑term rental amortization; council amends minutes to direct planning commission review

Dozens of San Clemente residents told the City Council on June 3 that short‑term lodging units have disrupted neighborhoods and that the council should not re‑open the amortization schedule that phases out those units.

Public speakers described repeated noise, late‑night parties, parking and safety problems they attribute to STLUs. “I would like to state that I am adamantly against any further debate or reviews of this topic and believe the city council should keep and carry on with the hard fought short term lodging and zoning amortization process in place,” said Matthew Fletcher, who identified himself as a resident of an R‑1 neighborhood. Chris Booth, representing 22 neighbors on Calle Cinaja and Via Bellina, said one nearby property “has repeatedly failed to properly screen her short term rentals” and cited late‑night parties, trespass and code citations. “Your duty as city council members is to protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” Booth said.

Other speakers recounted safety incidents and legal costs. David Hurwitz said he spent about $600,000 fighting what he described as a sober‑living or problem house near his property. Several speakers, including Kathy Ward and Joe Janis, reminded the council that a 2020 legal settlement set a 10‑year amortization that was to expire in 2026; they urged the council to uphold that agreement.

Why it matters: San Clemente’s STLU rules affect neighborhood character, local housing availability and transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenue. Residents at the meeting framed the issue as a tradeoff between short‑term revenue and livability.

Council response and outcome

Council members debated whether the minutes of the May 20 meeting accurately recorded the council’s intentions. Several council members and the city manager said the prior meeting’s action was meant to direct staff to return to the Planning Commission for study, not to adopt final changes that night. Councilmember Victor Cabral moved to modify the May 20 minutes so they explicitly show the council directed staff and the Planning Commission to review and report back on three items: (1) the amortization period for amortized short‑term lodging units; (2) increased hotel/motel development potential through zoning changes or special exceptions; and (3) the expansion or capacity allowances for STLUs, including limited‑term expansions tied to the 2028 Olympics or other major events. The motion to modify the minutes passed by voice vote; the council recorded one abstention.

The council did not enact any immediate change to the STLU ordinance on June 3. The amended minutes and motion instead formalize direction that staff and the Planning Commission will study and report back on the three topics listed above.

Notable quotations (from meeting transcript)

- “I would like to state that I am adamantly against any further debate or reviews of this topic,” — Matthew Fletcher, San Clemente resident. - “Your duty as city council members is to protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” — Chris Booth, representing neighbors on Calle Cinaja and Via Bellina. - “We are not sure who incited this idea, but if you were the one, shame on you for not doing your due diligence before starting the ball rolling,” — Joe Janis, longtime organizing volunteer.

Clarifying details and context

- The amortization schedule referenced in public comment originated in a 2020 settlement; speakers said the settlement set a 10‑year sunset that would end in 2026. The city clerk and city manager discussed ensuring minutes reflect that council members intended study and not final action. - City staff and the city manager repeatedly said a zoning amendment process requires Planning Commission hearings and is not final action from a single council meeting. - The council’s amendment to the May 20 minutes instructs staff and the Planning Commission to study the three topics and return with recommendations; it does not itself change zoning or the amortization timeline.

Next steps

Staff will bring the matter to the Planning Commission for consideration and a formal recommendation to council. The amended minutes now explicitly record that direction.

Ending: The council heard more than a dozen speakers during Oral Communications on June 3, most urging the city to preserve the current amortization plan and not broaden STLU allowances; the council’s June 3 action was limited to clarifying the record and sending the issues to the Planning Commission for study.