Public Input Sought On Residential Development Project In SJC

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — San Juan Capistrano City council members will hear from the community as they hold a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss the construction of a home on a 1.4-acre lot on Avenida California, adjacent to the Pacifica San Juan community in south San Juan Capistrano.

The lot on which the construction would take place is located on the downslope side of Avenida California, which leads to the Pacifica San Juan community.

Due to the nature of the topography, RRM Design Group, the applicant of the project, proposed a grading plan modification that would involve 100 cubic yards of cut and 2,000 cubic yard of fill, along with two retaining walls up to six feet in height, according to a city staff report.

The proposal has drawn criticism from residents living in the community for its large size and grading modification plan, which was appealed by the Pacifica San Juan Community Organization.

San Juan Capistrano residents can read the grading plan modification appeal authored by the Pacifica San Juan Community Organization, as well as the city's response, by viewing the city's website.

Pacifica resident Bill Roberts told Patch that the size of the proposed house is at least two times larger than any home located in the Pacifica community.

While the size of the home was not specified in the city's staff report, an online petition on Ipetition.com said the size of the house is expected to be roughly 11,600 square-feet.

Roberts stands against the proposed project and said that it would create traffic issues along Avenida California and significantly impact the ocean view visible from the lot location.

Roberts also noted that the grading plan for the project was questionable, given the challenging topography and narrow structure of the lot site. The grading modification plan will be exempt from further California Environmental Quality Act review, according to the city.

Roberts told Patch that the issue hits close to home — literally.

"On Avenida California, we set up chairs and tables for people to enjoy the view," Roberts said. "There’s a lot of concern about the instability of the soil as well."

A similar proposal garnered the attention of Pacifica residents in 2010, when the same property owner received city approval to build a structure on the lot. The project was ultimately uncompleted for unknown reasons, according to Roberts.

Residents interested in giving the city feedback about the proposed project on Avenida California are asked to attend Tuesday's city council meeting at 5 p.m. in council chambers, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.