A rooftop deck proposed for a new four-story boutique hotel in San Clemente has been amended to address concerns from nearby Marblehead residents who raised concerns the open-air venue would create excessive noise and ruin the night ambiance.
The City Council recently approved the plans modifying the rooftop restaurant and bar, including installing acoustic glass around outdoor seating to contain the noise. Music played on the rooftop must be limited to background music or intimate live performances that aren’t loud enough for the noise to travel beyond the hotel’s property. A lighting plan must comply with city regulations, and no more than 50% of the rooftop seating may be located outdoors.
Hours of operation on the rooftop have been limited to 10 p.m.
The Lodge at San Clemente, a hotel concept initially approved in 2004 as part of a coastal development plan that included the Outlets at San Clemente, is planned for a vacant 2-acre parcel along Avenida Vista Hermosa. The location is across from the outlets, next to senior housing for memory care and a Chick-fil-A, and just across the 5 freeway from the 1,000-home Marblehead community.
Developer Craig Realty Group had the 130-room Mediterranean-style hotel designed in 2016, with a ballroom, meeting room and restaurant on the ground floor, and in 2019 decided a rooftop deck with a bar and lounge would be a good addition to the plans. But COVID delayed the development until now.
“It’s a way better project now, and it will serve the community better,” said Beverly Wiesen, a Marblehead resident, who, with a group of her neighbors, threatened to sue the city if mitigation measures for noise and light, as well as guidelines for construction times and operating hours, were not implemented.
Her group met with city officials and the project architect several times to dial in concerns, she said. An independently commissioned noise study was also used to better assess what could be done.
“Now he has half of his seating inside, and he can use it year-round instead of having to shut down when it’s windy, cold, or foggy,” Wiesen said. “There is no alcohol service outside after 10 p.m. So by having the outside close at 10, those sliding doors will close, and it won’t matter to anybody anywhere. If they keep that rooftop interior side with the windows closed, they can keep it going until 2 in the morning. It actually ends up being such a better project.”
The City Council — with an eye to getting the project up and running in time for the 2028 Olympics and nearby surf events — approved the changes at its Jan. 20 meeting.
City Manager Andy Hall commended the collaboration between the project’s architect and Marblehead residents.
“The residents have been clear that they are not against the hotel; they just wanted to mitigate the impacts,” he said. “On the other side, the architect was trying to incorporate the mitigations. It’s been a successful process in getting these two parties together.”
Among other considerations that required further council discussion last week was whether weddings and similar activities could be allowed on the rooftop deck.
After some back-and-forth and comments from Wiesen that she didn’t want to have to be the “enforcement authority,” the council agreed that such events would have to fall under the same conditions other restaurant venues have in San Clemente, meaning they would require a special permit and be evaluated by city staff to ensure compliance with existing restrictions.
“Noise carries when people are excited and happy,” said Councilmember Mark Enmeier, “I don’t want that to come at the cost of residents’ quality of life.”
Now, with the council’s approval, Hall said the project is ready to go, and it will be up to the developers how quickly it moves forward.
“It will go through building review and they’ll pick up the permit,” he said. “It will take about 18 months from the time they start.”
Councilmember Steve Knoblock said the venue will be iconic, and “something people are talking about in 10 years.”
“The Lodge hotel’s rooftop in San Clemente,” he said, “will be the place to go.”