Litigation Filed Against City Of Wildomar Over 151-Acre Development Project

A citizens group has filed litigation attempting to block a development project in Wildomar.

Wildomar-based Citizens for Quality Development filed a petition in Riverside County Superior Court Tuesday requesting the city set aside its June 5 decision to move forward on the Oak Creek Canyon development project.

According to the court filing, the petitioners allege the city broke the law in approving the project that calls for 275 homes and a commercial center to be built on 151 acres along Bundy Canyon Road near The Farm community.

Specifically, the petitioners allege provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) were violated because the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Oak Creek Canyon project was inadequate. The EIR didn’t include all the environmental concerns associated with the development, and the document failed to describe how the developer would mitigate environmental damage caused by the project, the petitioners allege.

If the project were to move forward as the city hopes, it would significantly impact the environment, the petition states.

Among concerns addressed by residents during public hearings on the Oak Creek Canyon project include the proximity of the development to a sewage treatment plant and associated "spray field" and ponds; the removal of more than 200 oak trees at the project site; zoning concerns; and traffic and noise problems on Bundy Canyon Road.

The city is responsible for ensuring law is followed when it comes to development within its borders.

The project applicant is Sunbelt Communities Inc.

The 13-page petition for writ of mandate filed Tuesday shows the petitioners are being represented by Temecula-based attorney Ray Johnson of Johnson & Sedlack.

Neither Johnson nor the City of Wildomar was immediately available for comment.

According to court records, a hearing on the matter is scheduled Aug. 12.