Planning Commission designates 34862 Coast Highway as historic and recommends Mills Act participation

The Dana Point Planning Commission voted Monday to designate the property known in the staff report as El Camonente Bar and Bungalows, located at 34862 Coast Highway, as a local historic resource and to recommend that the City Council consider the property for the Mills Act program.

Staff said the property was built in 1946, was evaluated by the city in 1997 and again in 2015, and received a site-specific historic survey in February 2017 ahead of an extensive rehabilitation that concluded in February 2024. John Chample, senior planner, told the commission the property "was identified as eligible for local and state registries" and that staff recommended inclusion on the city's historic registry and a recommendation for Mills Act participation.

The staff report said the property meets multiple local criteria for designation, including association with mid-20th-century roadside motel commerce, retention of original exterior character-defining features such as wood siding and Spanish tile roof, and ties to a local founding family identified in the report as the Woodruff family. Staff also noted that the Mills Act review typically focuses on exterior character-defining features while the most recent rehabilitation included interior work completed in February 2024.

Commissioners expressed support during the public hearing. There were no members of the public who spoke during the hearing on this item, and the applicant did not provide additional remarks at the podium. Following discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt a resolution for historical resource designation and participation in the Mills Act program for the hotel at 34862 Coast Highway (Historic resource application 25-0001); the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor.

The commission then separately voted to recommend to the City Council approval of the designation and Mills Act participation; that motion also passed.

The Planning Commission record and staff report identify the property as located within the coastal zone near Doheny State Beach and note prior historic evaluations and a 2017 site-specific survey performed before the recent rehabilitation. The resolution and the recommendation to council will be forwarded to the City Council for final action on Mills Act enrollment and formal listing on the local historic registry.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution for historical resource designation and Mills Act participation for 34862 Coast Highway (Historic resource application 25-0001): motion made, seconded, item approved by voice vote. - Recommendation to City Council to approve the historic designation and Mills Act participation: motion made, seconded, item approved by voice vote.

The commission moved on to its next agenda item after forwarding the recommendation to the City Council.