Equity Residential, one of the nation’s largest apartment landlords, is asking to redevelop part of Mission Viejo’s Vista del Lago apartment complex with a six-story building.
The proposal is set to be considered by the City Council at a public hearing on Tuesday, March 10.
Built in 1986, the Vista del Lago complex at 21622 Marguerite Parkway has 608 units, consisting of one- and two-bedroom residences spread across multiple two-story buildings. The property is mostly surrounded by single-family homes, with the Portola Plaza shopping center to its west.
If approved, the project would increase the total number of units at Vista del Lago to 958, adding a net total of 350 new apartments.
The plan would demolish 68 existing units, along with tennis courts and a clubhouse, on a 3.87-acre portion of the 33.6-acre property. The six-story residential building would replace the existing structures.
The building would host 418 units, including studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 604 square feet to 1,258 square feet.
The apartment building would wrap around a seven-level parking structure that would begin below grade with 658 spaces and include amenities such as a leasing office, fitness center, coworking space, pet spa, outdoor gathering areas, and a rooftop pool deck.
Fifty-three units would be reserved for affordable housing, including 26 very-low-income and 27 low-income units, according to the proposal.
The city’s Planning and Transportation Commission voted unanimously last month to recommend the Vista del Lago redevelopment project to the City Council, including approval of amendments to the city’s general plan and zoning map. During public comment, six people spoke in favor of the project, while 19 spoke in opposition, raising concerns about traffic, safety and quality of life.
“For me, it was more of, ‘Holy crap, they’re putting a monstrosity on a corner that can’t sustain this,’” said Debbie Lewandowski, a Mission Viejo resident for more than 20 years. Lewandowski has circulated a petition opposing the project, which has roughly 300 signatures so far, she said.
Neighbors worry the development could worsen congestion near Santa Margarita Parkway and alter the character of the surrounding master-planned community.
“Mission Viejo is a master-planned community, and the infrastructure here just isn’t designed for this level of density,” she argued.
Drew Sullins with Equity Residential said the development will fit in with the surrounding community.
“We have approached the design with care,” he said at the recent Planning Commission hearing, adding that the new building is set back far enough in the complex that it shouldn’t be noticeable to the community behind the trees and existing buildings.
The design “beautifully complements Mission Viejo’s existing building environment,” he said. The project’s architect provided a series of renderings to show how views of the building would be minimal beyond the complex.
Sullins also addressed the residents of the portion of the complex that would be replaced with the new construction, saying there are options within the surrounding units and in nearby properties the company owns for their relocation.
“We are fully committed to supporting every resident through this transition, including providing relocation assistance to make sure they find a comfortable new home,” Sullins said.
The proposal is subject to recent state housing laws, city officials said, which limit the city’s ability to deny or downzone the development and allow developers to add more units and receive special exceptions to local building rules if affordable housing is included.
“We understand, we know this is gonna change the dynamic of our city, but the state does not care. We care, we really do,” Mayor Wendy Bucknum said during the Feb. 24 council meeting when an update report on the Southern California Association of Governments was provided, taking the opportunity to make comments about housing mandates. She added that city officials “have tried everything” to push back on some state-mandated housing laws, including densification and limits on the city’s ability to weigh in.
“Somebody planning something from Sacramento is not gonna do a better job than us, ever, so here we are,” Bucknum said. “We’re not anti-housing. Mission Viejo knows what’s best for Mission Viejo.”
The City Council meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at City Hall in the Council Chambers. For more information: cityofmissionviejo.org.