Mixed-Use Community Proposed for the City of San Juan Capistrano

Last week, the City of San Juan Capistrano announced the preparation of an environmental report for a proposed specific plan project.

The proposed 7.3-acre “El Camino Specific Plan” area would be comprised of three private parcels and nine City-owned parcels, including the Blas Aguilar Adobe, Historic Town Center Park (HTC), and the former Caltrans parcel.

The two private active proposed developments will be the Ortega Hwy & El Camino Real Mixed-Use project, which would reuse the property that formerly housed the Camino Real Playhouse, and the Forster & El Camino Mixed-Use project. Between these two proposed developments are City-owned parcels that include Historic Town Center (“HTC”) Park and Blas Aguilar Adobe. The proposed project would designate a portion of these City-owned parcels for a new future performing arts center within HTC Park.

Proposed by Frontier Real Estate Investment & Melia Homes, the proposed Forster & El Camino Mixed Use project will be a mixed-use community, incorporating both commercial and residential uses. The commercial element of the project will include a free-standing 4,294 square foot restaurant and a 3,100 square foot fitness center attached to the residential building. The residential element of the Project will contain ninety-five (95) apartments with a gross area of 110,559 square feet surrounding a resort-style pool and recreational facility.

The central residential buildings will be designed by Summa Architecture in a Spanish Revival Vernacular style.

Additionally, the proposed Ortega Hwy & El Camino Real Mixed-Use project will include the demolition of an existing commercial building, the construction of one two-story mixed-use building, and a three-story above-ground parking structure.

The proposed parking structure and retail building will be a three-story structure consisting of four levels of parking (ground floor included). The Project includes a total of 216 parking stalls proposed for the entirety of the site.