Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Juan Capistrano public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in development with high priority
French Hotel project and historic adobe restoration
A 70-room boutique hotel will restore the Domingo Yorba and Casa Manuel Garcia adobes on Camino Capistrano, opening a public courtyard between them for the first time in decades. Supporters see it as saving century-old buildings and boosting downtown tourism; the trade-off is tight on-site parking relying on a mechanical car lift and the city's park-once model.
Senior Housing Development
San Juan Capistrano is moving forward with a senior housing project. If you have aging parents who need affordable options nearby, this could matter—though the city hasn’t shared cost or design details yet.
Love-Mitchell Parking Lot property negotiations
The city is privately negotiating the price and terms for the Love-Mitchell Parking Lot at 31785 Camino Real with 31792 Camino Capistrano LLC. Whatever is decided could affect downtown parking and city finances.
50-unit senior affordable housing on Don Juan Avenue
The city will sell 1.8 acres it bought for $2.35 million to C&C Development for a 50-unit, 100-percent-affordable senior project — a far cry from the 107-unit, 14-parking-space tower state law would have allowed. A one-to-one parking ratio and an overnight-parking ban on Don Juan Avenue address neighbors' concerns.