Large-Scale Wildomar Development Clears First Major Hurdle

A proposed development in Wildomar’s northeast corner at The Farm is likely to get underway.

In a 3-0 vote Wednesday night, the Wildomar Planning Commission approved the Oak Creek Canyon project, which calls for subdivision of approximately 151 acres at The Farm into 275 lots for development of single-family residential homes as well as development of a 5-acre parcel for commercial/retail. Lot sizes for single-family homes are expected to range from between 4,500 and 10,100 square feet.

The project site is bisected by Bundy Canyon Road and extends from Farm Road/Harvest Way on the west to Sunset Avenue on the east.

Commissioners Michael Kazmier and Bobby Swann were absent for Wednesday’s vote.

The project was initially brought to the city by Sunbelt Communities in February 2011, according to Larry Markham, a consultant to the applicant.

As part of the proposed project, Sunbelt will pay to straighten Bundy Canyon Road and widen it through the stretch from Sunset to Farm Road. The project also calls for three private parks and community trails.

The development still requires city council approval, and Wildomar Planning Director Matthew Bassi said the matter would come before council members March 27.

Wednesday’s unanimous vote came during the regularly scheduled planning commission meeting that saw approximately 75 people in attendance. Several audience members addressed the commission with comments during a public hearing on the matter.

Former Wildomar City Councilwoman Sheryl Ade expressed concerns about doing a project that will bring increased traffic to Bundy Canyon Road. She argued the heavily traveled stretch of Bundy Canyon between the 15 and 215 freeways should be upgraded before the project gets underway.

“The issue is safety,” she said. “I believe it would be negligent.”

Wildomar resident Gary Andre worried the medium high density residential proposed for the project could be problematic for neighboring communities.

“I think we have to be concerned about the people surrounding this,” he said.

Other citizen concerns included storm water runoff, the impacts on Bundy Canyon residents who would be affected by a road widening, potential lack of parking space for the proposed new homes, and concern about how current sewage fields might impact new residents.

Not all commenters were critical. Rocky Jackson, president of The Farm’s property owners association, commended the project.

“The commercial property is needed,” he said. “Most of the community is happy with the Bundy Canyon Road improvements."

George Taylor also sits on the board of directors for The Farm’s POA and he said the developer “bent over backward” to address residents’ concerns.