Too much of a head start

Mathis Winkler

CORONA DEL MAR -- Sometimes putting things off for a day might not be

such a bad idea.

That’s what the developer of a 90-home, upscale neighborhood in the

village must have realized when city officials recently issued a “stop

work order.”

Eager to get several model homes for the “Sailhouse” community on Sea

Lane up and standing, John Laing Homes builders had begun digging footing

trenches and setting foundation forms. But they did so before getting

building permits for the buildings themselves, and that’s something the

city’s building inspectors don’t like to see.

After putting a stop to the project, city officials issued an

investigation fee on the four single-family homes and one triplex

involved. What that means is that the developer will have to pay twice as

much as the regular building permits cost, said Faisal Jurdi, the city’s

deputy building director.

A day later, the building permits were issued and work could continue.

While not very common, city officials come across such eagerness from

time to time.

“The whole thing lasted apparently a day,” Jurdi said, adding that it

wasn’t a major issue in his opinion.

From now on, the John Laing Homes folks “can build as fast as they

want to,” he said.

At a groundbreaking ceremony last September, company officials said

they expected model homes to be completed by early 2001, with sales for

the homes beginning soon after. Ranging from 1,367 to 2,383 square feet,

prices for the homes will start in the high $500,000s.

“Sailhouse” will rise on land formerly occupied by the Shores

Apartments. When planning commissioners approved the project in January

2000, Shores residents had complained that the demolition of their

apartments would destroy one of the village’s last remaining low-rent

apartment complexes.

John Laing officials said in September that all tenants had been

offered $500 in moving expenses and a reduced security deposit for

apartments elsewhere. They had also extended the notice period from 30 to

60 days. They could not be reached for comment Friday.