City to Ponder Merging Design, Planning Panels

SAN CLEMENTE — Some of the faces will be changing, but the role of the San Clemente Community Design Commission will stay the same--at least for now.

City Council members said they wanted to keep the commission as is for this fiscal year, but asked officials to consider merging the commission with the Planning Commission as a possible way to cut costs.

The five-member commission, which is responsible for reviews involving architecture, cultural heritage and sign codes, was established in 1984 when the city merged its previous cultural heritage and architectural review boards.

Meanwhile, the city is seeking applications from residents to fill two vacant seats on the Community Design Commission.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Aug. 25. Candidates will be interviewed by the council during a special meeting Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

During the special meeting on Monday, the council also appointed a number of residents to serve on the newly created sign ordinance, Fire Department master plan and zoning ordinance advisory committees.

The council appointed Dottie Bernett, Mimi Collier, Frank Denison Jr., Dorothy Kaleta, George Moulison, Rich Richardson, Peggy Stith and Phil Tessier to the sign ordinance committee--which will make recommendations about potential changes to the city sign code.

Council member Scott Diehl, Planning Commissioner John Tengdin and Community Design Commissioner Joe Oliver will also serve on the committee.

Helping the city develop a master plan for the Fire Department will be the following residents: Leonard G. Marks, Charles M. Mitchell and William Roberts. Mayor Truman Benedict and Planning Commission Chairman Steve Apodaca will also serve on the committee.

And helping the city to make the zoning ordinance match the newly adopted general plan will be: Sharron L. Gill, Wesley A. Landen, Ricardo A. Nicol, Mark R. Schmitt, Susan Tebo, John P. Tully and Zell S. VanMyers. Councilman Joseph Anderson and commissioners Tengdin and Oliver also will serve on the committee.