During a special Wednesday evening meeting, the Claremont Planning Commission unanimously elected K.M. Williamson as its new chair and approved two future businesses.

Ms. Williamson will spearhead the team during what could be an active 2015, including a possible new hotel built on San Jose Street and Indian Hill Boulevard.

Ms. Williamson has been part of the commission for the past seven years, including a stint serving as vice chair. She has a long career in urban planning, holding a doctorate from the School of Social Ecology at UC Irvine.

Richard Rosenbluth, another long-standing member of the commission, was voted in unanimously as the new vice chair.

Leigh Anne Jones was also introduced as the newest member of the commission. Ms. Jones, who was officially appointed during the city council meeting on September 8, is a graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. She has worked as an architect for over 30 years, and has lived in Claremont for the past three years.

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, two new businesses were unanimously approved to open. An acupuncture business will be located in the Claremont Triangle business park at 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., while a children’s tutoring center will be appropriately placed in the Old School House.

The acupuncture business is the brainchild of Samantha Humphries, a lifelong Claremonter who had previously operated another acupuncture business for the past two years and wanted to move to a new location.

The tutoring center will be known as the Link Educational Institute. The institute’s founder, Alexander Ruiz, hopes to make it a welcome addition to the former location of Claremont High School, providing after-school educational help for high school students.

On October 6, a special meeting will be convened to discuss a proposed new hotel to be located at San Jose Avenue and Indian Hill Boulevard. This new plan will call for the demolition of the existing hotel currently on the property.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com