Rescinding Approval of Cultural Heritage Commission Resolution No. 25-12-03-01 for the French Hotel Project

The City of San Juan Capistrano is taking administrative action to rescind the Cultural Heritage Commission’s December 3, 2025 resolution approving Site Plan Review 22-002, which originally permitted the development of a 70-room boutique hotel on the historic Domingo Yorba and Casa Manuel Garcia Adobes properties. The project had included restoration of the adobes for guest accommodations and dining, an event space, and on-site valet parking, but the city now seeks to formally negate all prior approvals under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The rescission is grounded in CEQA Guidelines §§ 15060(c)(2)-(3), 15378, and 15061(b)(3), which classify the action as a non-project exemption under the “common sense” rule, asserting that nullifying prior approvals does not constitute a new project with potential environmental impacts. This is not a procurement or construction contract but a regulatory and procedural step requiring no financial expenditure, deliverables, or performance timeline, and no solicitation number or contract value is associated with the action. The city’s Development Services Department is the responsible entity, with Izzak Mireles serving as the primary point of contact and Dan Almquist identified as the applicant or agent associated with the original proposal. No contract clauses from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), procurement terms, payment details, inspection criteria, or socioeconomic certifications are applicable or present, as this is purely a local administrative and environmental review matter under state law. The place of performance is firmly established in San Juan Capistrano, California, with no shipping, packaging, or federal reporting requirements involved.