Trees vs. Ocean Views, 3-Story Ban up for Debate Among Council, Commissions

A controversial proposal to allow public trees to be removed to protect ocean views, a disputed proposal to ban three-story buildings downtown and contentious changes made to the draft general plan by the planning commission will get hashed out in a big joint meeting of city council and commission appointees Wednesday.

The debate over the three-story ban has been ongoing since last year, sparked by San Clemente Historical Society opposition to a large development planned for El Camino Real next to the historic city building.

The project developer, Olen, pulled out because of opposition, but the General Plan Advisory Committee voted 10 to 7 to include at three-story ban in the historic downtown area. The planning commission, however, in their review of the massive draft of zoning, land use and other long-term city governance decisions, removed the call for a ban.

That was one of the reasons a group within the General Plan Advisory Committee asked for a joint meeting with council and the planning commission -- they wanted a chance to formally lobby the city council to reinsert their suggestions on a number of issues into the final language of the general plan document, which will set the course of city progress for the next two decades.

A new subject of debate is a plan by Mayor Bob Baker to develop a process by which landowners could request that the city cut down trees on public properties that block their ocean views. There has been vehement argument over this proposal as well, and the historical society opposes it.

The San Clemente City Council, General Plan Advisory Committee and the San Clemente Planning Commission will meet together at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Community Development Department Building's second floor at 910 Calle Negocio.