Applicant seeks minor use permit for small medical clinic at Westlake Professional Center, staff recommends approval

At the March 22, 2025 Encinitas administrative hearing, planning staff recommended approval of a minor use permit and associated coastal development permit to allow a medical clinic in an existing 840‑square‑foot tenant suite at the Westlake Professional Center, 681 Encinitas Boulevard, Unit 316.

Staff said the tenant space is located in the Business Park zone and that a minor use permit is required to establish a medical clinic there under the Encinitas Municipal Code (staff cited section 30.09). The coastal development permit is required because the property is within the city’s coastal zone overlay. The proposal does not include changes to the exterior of the tenant suite or an increase in floor area.

Staff reported the applicant held a citizens participation program meeting on March 10, 2025, at the project site but no members of the public attended and no comments were received. Staff said legal notice was mailed on April 10, 2025, and that no public comments were submitted. The staff report concluded the project is exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (operation/maintenance and negligible expansion of existing uses) and is consistent with the General Plan, the Local Coastal Program and applicable Business Park zone standards. Staff recommended approval of Case No. Multi690052024.

The hearing record indicates the applicant (listed in the file as SR 24 and SR 25 Exchange LLC) did not attend the hearing; staff answered a clarifying question from the Zoning Administrator confirming no public comments had been received. No formal motion or vote was recorded at the hearing; staff said the planner will update the decision and the director will sign the permit documents after the hearing.

Next steps: planner to update the decision with any hearing results and forward for the director’s signature, according to staff remarks.