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Council introduces ordinance to update Los Rios specific plan uses for 31791 Los Rio Street
Summary
The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted to introduce an ordinance amending the Los Rios specific plan to modernize permitted uses in the historic commercial district at 31791 Los Rio Street; staff said the site already meets open‑area standards and recommended the action as not a CEQA project. The motion passed with four votes and one abstention/recusal.
The San Juan Capistrano City Council on March 3 introduced an ordinance to amend the Los Rios specific plan to modernize the list of principal uses permitted in the historic commercial district for the property at 31791 Los Rio Street.
Planning staff told the council the specific plan area totals about 52,719 square feet and that development standards require 90% of the site remain open. Staff said existing buildings and an entitled structure leave only roughly 347 square feet of additional buildable area and that the proposed code amendment would update allowed uses but would not change development standards.
Staff recommended the council find the amendment is not a "project" under the California Environmental Quality Act and, if it were subject to CEQA, that it would be exempt under state guidelines (staff cited the state CEQA guideline exemptions discussed in the staff report). After the public hearing was opened and no members of the public addressed the council on this item, a councilmember moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and the council voted to carry the motion 4–0 with one abstention/recusal.
Mayor Pro Tem Taylor recused from the item because of proximity of residence and a potential family employment conflict, as announced on the record. The clerk subsequently read the title of the ordinance (code amendment 25‑003 to amend the Los Rios specific plan, applicant 31791 Los Rio Street, LLC).
Next steps: staff will prepare the formal ordinance language for subsequent readings as required by the city's ordinance process.
