San Clemente Planning Commission approves Myron residence addition, citing historic-compatibility findings

The City of San Clemente Planning Commission on April 2 approved Resolution PC 25-005 granting a Cultural Heritage Permit for alterations to the Myron residence at 245 Avenida Del Poignette, finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under sections 15.301 and 15.303.

Assistant Planner Jessica Gattney told the commission the proposal would demolish a 237-square-foot noncompatible rear addition and build a 948-square-foot, two-story addition with an integrated roof deck, increasing the home from about 1,189 square feet to nearly 1,900 square feet. Gattney said the property was originally developed in 1938 and is subject to a historic property preservation (Mills Act) agreement executed in 2014: "This project fulfills the majority of the remaining improvements outlined in the 10 year agreement," she said.

The nut of the permit, staff said, is compatibility with the residence’s Spanish Colonial Revival character and compliance with zoning setbacks. The proposal includes Spanish-style details such as wrought-iron railings, exposed rafter tails, barrel tile roofing and stucco siding; the roof-deck would be recessed and enclosed by a 42-inch-high stucco parapet. Gattney recommended approval, saying the Cultural Heritage Subcommittee’s earlier recommendations had been incorporated.

Architect Christine Lambert, representing the applicant, described the design approach as minimizing changes to the original house and preserving privacy from an adjacent two-story apartment building: "My goal as an architect in this town ... is to really maintain the integrity of that project," she said. Owner Brett Myron said the couple purchased the home intending to preserve its historic character and that the addition was sited to avoid altering original fabric: "We basically haven't touched anything on the original home," Myron said.

Members of the design review subcommittee and commissioners who visited the site expressed support. Commissioner Camp, a member of the design review subcommittee, said committee comments were addressed and that revisions improved the west elevation. Commissioner Prescott Loeffler, who reported a site visit, said the addition would improve privacy from the neighboring apartment building and that recommended design changes were met.

The commission made two formal findings before voting: that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA (Class 1 existing facilities and the new construction conversion small-structure exemption cited in staff materials) and that the cultural heritage permit findings were met. The motion to adopt Resolution PC 25-005 and approve Cultural Heritage Permit PHP 24-485 was made and seconded; the item passed on a unanimous vote. The commission noted a standard 10-day appeal period before the permit becomes final.

Conditions and next steps noted in the staff report include a reinspection and consultant review tied to the property’s Mills Act renewal process, submission of a reinspection deposit prior to issuance of building permits, and required submittals of materials and digital samples for final review. Staff indicated the minor exception permit originally noticed (Minor Exception Permit 24-498) was not required because the addition complies with setbacks.

The commission’s approval keeps the property’s status as a single-family residence and, according to staff, would allow removal of the nonoriginal rear addition while preserving character-defining elements and maintaining the possibility of returning the structure to its original form if the addition were removed in the future.