A plan for a three-story, 62-unit townhouse project on a 2.647-acre property adjacent to Jessamyn West Park and fronting Yorba Linda Boulevard has been approved on a 3-1 vote by the Yorba Linda Planning Commission, despite strong opposition from nearby residents.
Residents expressed concerns at two meetings, a joint Traffic and Planning commissions meeting in November and a Planning Commission meeting in December. The 3-1 vote approved a tentative tract map, design review and conditional use permit for the project.
Opposition centered around density, traffic, circulation, parking, building height, privacy and fire access. At the November meeting, commissioners asked the applicant, City Ventures, to further study the concerns before the December meeting.
City Ventures, an Irvine-based home builder, said three units would be set aside for very low-income buyers, allowing a 22.5% density bonus from 53 units to 65 units. The builder noted its plan would top out at 62 units at 19081 Yorba Linda Blvd., east of Ohio Street and west of Palm Avenue.
Some of the project’s opponents addressed letters to City Council members, apparently in anticipation of an appeal to the city’s governing body. City Ventures made some changes in the project after the November meeting, but not enough to satisfy some neighbors.
Upon appeal, the council could “affirm or reverse, wholly or partially or may modify the decision, conditions of approval or determination made by the Planning Commission. The decision of the City Council shall be in writing and shall be final,” according to city policy.
Approval by the Planning Commission included 156 conditions to the tentative tract map and four conditions each to the design review and the conditional use permit. An appeal of the conditional use permit costs $1,000, which is waived if appealed by a council member.
Vote by commissioners: “yes” by Don Bernstein, Nathaniel Behura and Michael Masterson and “no” by Dale Goldfarb. Mario Chavez Marquez recused himself.
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Another split vote from commissioners concerned a request by West Coast Pickleball in the Savi Ranch Center to allow the sale and on-site consumption of beer, wine and distilled spirits as an accessory use to the facility, which requires a conditional use permit.
The 16,289-square-foot facility with six indoor and four outdoor courts for members and guests received a permit to operate in 2024. An indoor and an outdoor alcohol service area is allowed.
No comments were received from area property owners and comment from the OC Sheriff’s Department indicated the request “is consistent with public safety expectations and does not pose issues that require additional oversight.”
Vote by commissioners: “Yes” by Chavez Marquez, Goldfarb and Masterson and “no” by Behura and Bernstein.
The 20-square-mile city has 95 active on- and off-sale liquor licenses.
Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He gives his opinion on local issues weekly. Send e-mail to jimdrummond@hotmail.com.