French Hotel

The French Hotel Project (CUP 22-001) involves the rehabilitation and development of a 70-room boutique luxury hotel on a 1.68-acre site located at 31861-31871 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California. The project consists of six buildings featuring a restaurant, event spaces, a fitness center, a pool area, a public gathering space, and on-site valet parking. A central component of the development is the restoration and rehabilitation of the Domingo Yorba and Casa Manuel Garcia Adobes, both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to be integrated as guest rooms and dining areas. The scope includes the demolition of existing barns and structural additions to the adobes, with materials intended for salvage and reuse. The project is subject to extensive environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), with a Draft Environmental Impact Report identifying significant and unavoidable impacts related to transportation and vehicle miles traveled. Other technical assessments have addressed air quality, noise, biological resources, and geotechnical stability, including a Water Quality Management Plan to comply with NPDES Stormwater Program requirements. Construction is anticipated to last approximately 12 months, with demolition and site preparation scheduled for early 2026 and operations expected to begin in 2027. Key compliance requirements include ADA-accessible parking with EV charging, adherence to the California Noise Control Act, and the procurement of Caltrans encroachment permits for work within the right-of-way.