What San Juan Capistrano’s Planning Commission is about to decide
The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission meets Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at the Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion. One public hearing dominates the agenda: the 18.7-acre Distrito La Novia site. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — nothing below has been approved yet. Every item links to the official record.
Source: official agenda · Written comments: to the Secretary at lstokes@sanjuancapistrano.org at least two hours before the meeting
✅ What actually passed (per the draft minutes): The commission’s draft action minutes of the September 23 meeting — on its October 7 agenda for approval, not yet adopted — record all five commissioners present. Distrito La Novia was recommended to the City Council on a 4–1 vote. On a motion by Commissioner Wilhelm, seconded by Commissioner Braden, the commission voted “to adopt a resolution recommending that the City Council approve” the General Plan amendment, code amendment, architectural control, tentative tract map, grading plan modification and development agreement applications for the auto dealership and 95 for-sale residential units, and the finding that no additional environmental analysis is required based on the EIR addendum. Ayes: Braden, Moore, Rosenfeldt and Wilhelm. Noes: Fancher. The vote is a recommendation; the decision rests with the City Council. The minutes list 23 people who gave public testimony at the hearing. The JSerra Catholic High School sign program and administrative approval (larger digital pool scoreboard, sound system and speakers) was approved 5–0 on a motion by Rosenfeldt, seconded by Fancher; no one spoke. The June 23 minutes were approved 5–0. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. We will update this page if the commission amends the minutes before approving them.
The headline: a public hearing on a request “to allow the 18.7-acre Distrito La Novia site…to be developed with an auto dealership and 95 for-sale residential units.” The package includes a General Plan amendment, a code amendment, a tentative tract map and a development agreement. The applicants listed are Emilie Simard, Shea Homes LP, and Roger S. Penske Jr., South OC Realty, LLC. The agenda states no dollar figures.
🏗️ Public hearing: Distrito La Novia
- What is being asked: General Plan Amendment (GPA) 25-002, Code Amendment (CA) 25-005, Architectural Control (AC) 25-004 and 26-004, Tentative Tract Map (TTM) 25-003, Grading Plan Modification (GPM) 25-020 and 26-010, and Development Agreement (DA) 26-002. Item F1
- Where: the site is “generally located east of Valle Road between San Juan Creek Road and La Novia Avenue.” The agenda lists nine assessor parcel numbers. Item F1
- Environmental review: the commission is asked for “a finding that no new or more severe significant impacts would occur, and no additional environmental analysis is required as a result of the proposed project based on an Addendum to Environmental Impact Report SCH No. 2008061078.” Item F1
- The agenda does not state the commission’s recommended action or whether its vote is final; a General Plan amendment and development agreement are listed among the requests. The staff report, 18 attachments and an 11-part enclosure are linked from the official agenda. Project manager: Izzak Mireles, Senior Planner. Item F1
🏊 New business: JSerra pool scoreboard and sound system
- JSerra Catholic High School, 26500 Junipero Serra Road: Sign Program (SP) 26-018 and Administrative Approval (AA) 26-013 — “proposed modifications to an existing sign program to allow the replacement of the existing pool scoreboard with a larger digital scoreboard, including a sign exception for illumination, and for the proposed installation of an amplified sound system and speakers at an existing aquatics facility.” Staff propose a finding that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15311 (Accessory Structures). Project manager: Dominic Matias, Associate Planner. Item E1
📝 Consent calendar
- Draft minutes of the June 23, 2026 Planning Commission meeting. Item C1
- The commission is scheduled to adjourn to Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Council Brief summaries are produced from official public records by our automated newsroom and reviewed before publication. Items are described as posted; the council may amend, continue, or remove items at the meeting. Spot an error? hello@councilbrief.com — we publish corrections.
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