Design Review Subcommittee Meeting March 25, 2026

The City of San Clemente Design Review Subcommittee met on March 25, 2026, to discuss several development and urban design projects, with a significant focus on the Delmare parklet program. The meeting included a public hearing on a residential addition project adjacent to a historic resource, which was recommended to proceed to the planning commission without design changes. The bulk of the discussion centered on the Delmare parklets, temporary outdoor dining structures initially authorized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Committee members and public speakers raised concerns about the parklets' size, design inconsistency, impact on retail visibility, parking loss, safety, sanitation, and ADA compliance. Various design options for parklets, umbrellas, planters, and signage were reviewed, emphasizing the need for a cohesive, enforceable design standard that respects the city's Spanish colonial aesthetic and balances the needs of food and beverage businesses with retail merchants. The subcommittee agreed to provide detailed design feedback to staff and recommended a phased approach to revising the parklet program, including potential consolidation and size reduction of parklets. They also highlighted the need for broader policy discussions on the program's future, enforcement, and parking impacts, which would be addressed by the city council. A special subcommittee meeting was planned for early April to finalize design recommendations ahead of a city council decision on extending or modifying the parklet program, which is set to expire in July 2026.