Wildomar Makes Way For Very High Density Apartments, Condos

Despite a recommendation from the Wildomar Planning Commission advising against two projects that propose to bring added very high-density housing to the city, on Wednesday night Wildomar City Council green-lighted both.

The first project dubbed the Westpark Promenade Development calls for construction of apartments and commercial on 27.6 acres of vacant land at the northeast corner of Interstate 15 and Catt Road.

The applicant on the project, Irvine-based Golden Eagle Multi-Family Properties, LLC, originally came to the city asking for a general plan amendment that would change the land-use designation on 21.26 of the acres from “commercial office” to “very high density residential.” In October, however, the planning commission recommended against the requested change, saying the very high density was not a good fit for the site and the city could not afford to lose prime commercial land.

On Wednesday night, the council members agreed with the planning commission recommendation but were persuaded to approve the item with a 5-0 vote after Golden Eagle brought forward a new proposal that would see more of the site dedicated to commercial. Originally, Golden Eagle had planned to develop approximately 6 acres into commercial, but Wednesday night showed a plan that would increase the commercial development to 12. 4 acres. The increase means the nearly 28 acres would be dedicated to approximately 60 percent apartments and 40 percent commercial retail.

The council members said the added commercial was more palatable, and they generally liked the change from commercial office to commercial retail, but Mayor Pro Tem Marsha Swanson and Councilman Bob Cashman strongly objected to the apartments, although they still ok'd the request for the land-use designation change.

“I think 200 units on 16 to 18 acres is way too high,” Swanson argued.

“I’m not looking to put apartments next to our freeway,” Cashman said.

Swanson, who is in the real estate business, was firm with the Golden Eagle representatives on hand Wednesday night, saying she hoped they would take seriously council's concerns.

The project is far from finishing. For example, an environmental impact report must still be completed, plans must be submitted to the city, and public hearings on the project must still be held. According to a Golden Eagle spokesman who addressed the council Wednesday, the company hopes to start construction in two years.

In a separate vote, the council also approved a land-use designation change that would allow for approximately 180 apartments on 9.22 acres at the northeast corner of Elizabeth Lane and Prielipp Road. The request for the change was also brought forward by Golden Eagle. 

The property was designated for medium high-density residential but Wednesday night was approved for very high-density residential. In October, the planning commission recommended against such high density at the location, which is currently surrounded by land designated for business parks, medium high-density residential, and some very high-density residential.

Through its spokesmen on hand Wednesday, Golden Eagle promised council members the development would be a gated, upscale project, where garages would be attached to the units. They also referred to the project as a condo development, not apartments. When Swanson pushed for clarification, the response was that the project would be apartments initially and eventually condos. The applicant also promised nearly $5 million in road, water and sewer improvements at the site.

With the exception of Councilwoman Bridgette Moore, all the council members expressed concerns about the very high-density at the site. However, only Cashman cast a vote against the project that was approved 4-1.