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 willing to match materials staff recommended and to consider plantings to soften the exterior wall. "We want to make it more attractive," Cellini said, adding that the applicant selected a freestanding, self-circulating fountain to avoid permanent utility hookups and is open to tying its finish to existing site materials.

Two residents urged caution. Amanda Quintanilla said altering openings would obstruct the Miramar Theater’s historic spatial relationship and cited the Secretary of the Interior Standards in asking that the property’s historic character be preserved. "Obstructing the view of the historic building changes its spatial relationship with the environment," Quintanilla said. Larry Culbertson argued the infill would create a "prison-like" appearance from the street and questioned staff’s assertion that the change meaningfully improves sound attenuation or hides a used-car lot across the street.

Commissioners discussed tradeoffs between public view and the project’s viability as an event center. Several commissioners favored the infill and a smoothed courtyard wall so the venue can operate for receptions and cocktail hours while preserving the marquee and ticket booth that remain visible from the street. Commissioners also debated whether the proposed fountain crowded the historic elevation and whether it should be relocated within the courtyard; the applicant said the fountain was intended primarily for sound masking during reception activities and could be turned off during ceremonies.

On procedural and technical points staff clarified that one corner planter contains a required water-quality treatment device that cannot be removed and that, while staff is open to removing raised planter beds, at least the treatment-device area must remain. Commissioners asked the applicant to follow up with staff on a courtyard lighting plan and on an exterior-wall landscape plan to soften the street-facing wall; staff said administrative approval of lighting is possible if photometrics limit off-site light.

Chair moved and Commissioner Camp seconded a resolution finding the project categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (Class 1) and adopting Planning Commission Resolution (PHP 25-57) to amend Core Cultural Heritage Permit CHP16376 to allow the described courtyard infill, add a courtyard fountain, and permit the applicant to modify courtyard landscape features. The motion included a modification to the resolution language to read "applicant may" modify courtyard landscape features and an added direction that the applicant follow up with staff for administrative approval of a courtyard lighting plan and an exterior wall landscape plan. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.

The approval is conditional on using primary materials consistent with on-site finishes for the fountain and on follow-up coordination with staff for lighting and landscaping; staff will retain administrative and, if necessary, design-review subcommittee oversight for any lighting or landscape details that raise neighborhood concerns.

The commission’s action preserves the ticket booth and marquee views emphasized by public commenters while allowing the event center operator flexibility to create an intimate courtyard for clients. Affected parties may follow further administrative steps as staff and the applicant finalize materials, landscape palette and lighting details.