TUSTIN : Tentative OK Given Added Townhomes

Bucking objections from some residents, the City Council on Monday tentatively approved a zoning change that will allow William Lyon Co. to build 100 more townhomes than currently permitted on their east Tustin property.

In unanimously approving the zoning ordinance, the council said the project will enhance the value of properties in the area. In addition, officials said there will be no significant traffic impact because even with the expected increase in the number of households in the area, traffic will still be 13% less than anticipated in the city planning document for the neighborhood.

“The project will be a signal for (continued) development of east Tustin,” Councilman Thomas R. Saltarelli said. “The fact that there is a higher density product wouldn’t affect the nearby properties. It will only enhance their values.”

Residents of the neighborhood, however, argued strongly against the change, saying the increased density will have a negative effect on their properties.

Merle Ogle, who lives in a townhouse across from the proposed project, said nearby properties will drop in value. “Density is a gauge in property values,” he said. “Whenever there is an increase in density, values drop, as any realtor would know.”

Final approval of the ordinance is expected when the council meets Feb. 16.

The planned site is in the so-called Sector 7 of east Tustin, which is currently designated as medium-density residential. William Lyon Co. wants to build 25 dwelling units per acre there, rather than the 18 currently allowed. The proposed project is at the southeast corner of Tustin Ranch Road and Greenway Drive.

In all, the developer wants to build 354 homes, 100 more than the 254 originally planned. Surrounding the site are condominiums and a private park to the north across from Greenway Drive, Tustin Ranch Golf Club on the east and south, and single-family homes on the west across Tustin Ranch Road.

Chris Hawke of William Lyon Co. said the site plan and final designs will be submitted to the city for review after the zone change is granted. Under the new zoning, the developer will propose to build two-story townhouses with two-car garages, rather than three-story homes with one-car garages.

“It will look and live better than originally proposed,” Hawke said. Officials of the company did not discuss what the sale price of the homes would be.

Some residents, however, described the zoning change as favoritism for the developer.

Pal A. Lengyel-Leahu, a member of the board of the Ventana Homeowners Assn., a nearby residential area, said there is no compelling reason for the zone change.

“A zone change will only benefit one party--William Lyon Co. This is significant injustice,” Lengyel-Leahu said. He said the developer cannot use the argument that its original plans will result in lesser profits. It’s not the job of the council to assure profits, he said.

Councilman Jeffrey Thomas, however, disagreed. He said that with the slumping economy, the council will see more developers who cannot pursue their projects and the city must find ways to help. In addition, he said that with the zone change more units will be built and would be sold at more affordable prices.

The council also approved the developer’s proposal to pay the city $2,000 for each of the 100 additional units that are built. The money would be used to construct park facilities in east Tustin.

“The overall project area is something that we can be proud of,” said Mayor Leslie Anne Pontious.