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SAN CLEMENTE, CA-The California Coastal Commission has grantedapproval to SunCal Cos. for the company's 248-acre MarbleheadCoastal project, a combination of housing, retail, movie theaterand hotel development, after 33 years of planning and hearings onthe site. Marblehead Coastal is planned for a 642,000-sf retailcenter called Plaza San Clemente, 313 homes, a 130-room hotel and a14-screen movie theater.The City of San Clemente, which was alsoinvolved in the approval process, describes the Marblehead Coastalproject as "one of the last and certainly one of the most importantocean front developments in Orange County." The 248-acre site is onthe west side of the I-5 Freeway between Avenida Pico and theproposed extension of Avenida Vista Hermosa.The Coastal Commissiongranted preliminary approval for the project in February 2005,after which SunCal began grading at the site but held offadditional construction while waiting for final approval. SunCalsays that full grading will begin on the 248-acre site immediately,with model homes expected in late summer 2007.Mike McGovern,project manager for Marblehead Coastal, notes that the plans forthe development include the restoration of approximately 100 acresof degraded habitat. More than 125 acres will be dedicated toparks, trails and a canyon preserve, plus four miles of publicpathways.The upscale retail component, Plaza San Clemente, is partof a design plan that includes two bridges over Marblehead Canyonand a street-scape plan distinguished by lantern-style streetlamps.