Planning Commission approves Miramar courtyard changes, adds fountain and design conditions

The San Clemente Planning Commission on Dec. 17 approved amendments to the Miramar Event Center’s permit to allow portions of the courtyard’s wrought-iron railing to be infilled with stucco and to install a freestanding fountain, with conditions on materials, landscaping and lighting.

Jonathan (senior planning staff) told commissioners the proposal would infill the openings in the courtyard wall to screen utilities visible through two pocket-arched openings and to help with sound and visual separation from the adjacent roadway and commercial uses. He said the city’s preservation consultant (GPA) concluded the courtyard is a secondary elevation and that reversible changes using extant materials would not be inconsistent with Secretary of the Interior Standards. "Staff’s recommendation is to require that the fountain’s primary material reflect extant on-site materials — stucco, tile or similar — rather than introducing stone as the dominant finish," Jonathan said.

Roger Cellini, representing Wedgwood Weddings, said the goal is to create an "atmosphere of seclusion" for cocktail hours and other events and that the applicant is…