San Clemente Planning Commission unanimously approves Mariners Church at Via Pico Plaza

The San Clemente Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit on Wednesday for Mariners Church to occupy a 26,000‑square‑foot commercial tenant space at 55 Via Pico Plaza.

Staff presented project 25297 and recommended approval after concluding the conversion is consistent with the West Pico Corridor specific plan and the city’s zoning standards; staff also recommended adoption of Resolution 26‑016 and a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act. Assistant Planner Bridal Hadley told commissioners the applicant’s 2025 parking study identified a 71‑space surplus in the plaza at peak demand and that peak times for the church would not overlap the center’s busiest retail hours.

Why it matters: The commission’s approval allows a large congregation to establish a permanent retail‑conversion campus in a shopping center that staff says has sufficient parking when conditioned to address localized peak queuing at the Pico/Pico Plaza intersection.

Commissioners pressed staff and the city’s assistant engineer, Zach Ponton, on how the city would determine and monitor an “unacceptable queue length” at the left‑turn pocket into the plaza; Ponton said monitoring would be complaint‑ and field‑observation driven and could include accident‑data review. He said mitigation could start with the applicant adding additional Sunday services or staggering times, and—only as a last resort—limiting seating if queuing becomes a safety hazard.

Blake Crane, the applicant’s representative, said Mariners has experience launching campuses in retail centers and emphasized volunteer parking teams and operational plans to minimize disruption: “We are totally open to adding services and other types of mitigation to help that outgoing and incoming traffic flow smoothly,” Crane said.

The commission heard one public comment in support: Gavin Lamming, who identified himself as the lead pastor and a lifelong San Clemente resident, described the congregation’s local ties and endorsement from other neighborhood churches.

Action taken: Commissioner McCann moved to approve staff recommendations, including a CEQA categorical exemption and adoption of Resolution 26‑016 approving the conditional use permit; Commissioner Prescott Loeffler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The chair noted the Planning Commission action will appear in the minutes presented to the City Council and that, following that procedural step, the applicant may apply for their building permit the next day.

Next steps: The permit takes final administrative effect after the council‑minutes process and any applicable appeal window; staff contact for follow‑up is listed in the staff report.