Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Candidates' take on preservation
Five of seven City Council candidates answer questions at a forum hosted by the San Clemente Historical Society.
 

By FRED SWEGLES

The Orange County Regsiter

SAN CLEMENTE — Candidates for City Council focused on community preservation issues Sunday at a forum hosted by the San Clemente Historical Society at the Ole Hanson Beach Club.

The society, presently mounting a campaign to try to prevent demolition of the former Miramar Theater for a mixed-use development, asked five candidates about landmark preservation and related topics. Two candidates did not attend – Sally Benedict Jeisy, who was ill, and Billy Linas, who was out of state.

Lori Donchak was asked how she would implement town founder Ole Hanson's vision of a "Spanish Village by the Sea."

She said her experience as a planning commissioner and her studies in urban planning have taught her that people are what make a village, creating a sense of neighborhood. She supports landmark preservation while also hoping that coastal San Clemente will embrace the newest part of town, inland of the freeway. It's vital for the city to get involved early with the Rancho Mission Viejo development to minimize future impacts, she said, even if construction bordering San Clemente is 10 years away.

Donchak served on the city's downtown vision committee and looks forward to LAB Holdings working with the city to create a community hub at North Beach, which will become one of five major activity hubs in town.

Wayne Eggleston was asked if he would support demolition of the Miramar Theater, or any other historic building, if a viable alternative is identified.

He said he can't say yes or no to the Miramar at this time, as he doesn't want to be forced to recuse himself from voting on it. That happened previously when he made comments on a development plan at the historic Sea Cliff site. He said a financial feasibility study will be needed for any Miramar alternative. As chairman of the city's Landmarks Task Force, he said the Miramar is indeed a landmark. He said he knows there is a lot of interest in it remaining a theater, but in the 1990s he brought several developers to investigate doing that and "all of them walked."

The Historical Society, he said, would be wise to produce a plan, document its viability, check the structural feasibility and join with a group like the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Chris McCormack was asked how he feels about the Landmark Task Force's proposal to prohibit "demolition by neglect" of any building on the city's historic structures list.

He said he hasn't had sufficient time to study up on demolition by neglect. "I wish I could provide you with a sufficient answer … I truly can't right now. I look forward to listening to the different community members' ideas and arguments toward this concept – the younger generation, the older generation, all San Clementeans. Right now, I cannot provide you with a sufficient answer."

He said he enjoys what the historical society does for San Clemente, and he learned much from a PowerPoint presentation about Ole Hanson's vision that the society had presented just prior to the candidates' forum.

George Gregory was asked what in his background makes him want to champion the cause of historical preservation in San Clemente.

He said his father taught him that "if you've got a door that's sticking, fix it – don't buy a new one." Gregory, a contractor, said San Clemente's historic buildings "are part of our culture," though some were poorly built. They're getting crowded out by other businesses, he said. At North Beach, he said it's important to preserve the park setting and he doesn't want to see a strip mall. "We can really make these historical buildings stand out, instead of surrounding them by more business. How much business is too much business?"

Gregory said the survival of Avenida Del Mar could be at stake, with a 600,000-square-foot outlet center soon to be built at Marblehead. "If you make too much business, you're going to lose Del Mar."

Joe Anderson was asked if he thinks preservation goals outlined in the city's downtown visioning and strategic plan should be waived for developers who don't share those goals.

He said the goals should not be waived. He supports a proposal to bar demolition by neglect on historic buildings. If an owner wants to change the use of a historic building, Anderson said the landowner has certain rights but the city must also look at viable alternatives. He said they have to make economic sense.

He served on the vision task force and, before that, the city's growth management committee. Anderson said government can promote community preservation goals via zoning rules. The city must provide a good business climate or risk losing what it has. Anderson said the city has done that, and the city can offer incentives to landowners. "In the end, we've got to come up with economically viable options for these properties."
WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR SAN CLEMENTE IN 2030?

Joe Anderson: A city in fiscal balance, generating enough revenue to provide needed services, with necessary infrastructures from parks to sidewalks to utilities. Quality development that's compatible with the community.

Chris McCormack: A town much like it is today. He's disappointed with an outlet mall going up in what once were tomato fields at Marblehead. He hopes San Clemente remains a small-town community, safe and friendly, like today.

Wayne Eggleston: A city that reflects Ole Hanson's original vision: The most pleasant place in America to live. For a time, Ole Hanson homes weren't popular ("you could practically give them away"). Today they're valuable. He hopes Hanson's vision lives on.

George Gregory: He'd like to see the coastal trail extend all the way to Trestles. Don't sell North Beach for development. Maintain city control. Get a better handle on capital projects that run over budget. Do better with urban runoff.

Lori Donchak: No more sewage plant by the sea. Create a traffic commission to deal with issues like where to put La Pata. Create a more bicycle-friendly community. Save not just Spanish buildings but some other distinctive architecture.

Billy Linas (asked Monday): Maintain a low crime rate and clean beaches. Keep the downtown district vibrant as the center of the city. And preserve a small-town feel, "where on a bicycle you can get to most parts of town still."

Sally Jeisy (asked Monday): Preserve a beautiful seaside village with parks, clean beaches and activities for kids. Fix the pools of runoff that collect down by the beaches. Historic buildings are important, but property rights are paramount.

Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127

Fred Swegles