TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA – Three residential plans for a large tract of vacant land west of Old Town Temecula are pending approval.
During the Temecula Planning Commission meeting on August 21 at 6 p.m., commissioners will review plans for the residential developments that are part of the 270-acre Altair Special Plan.
The three projects would bring a total of 467 residential units to the area. According to city documents, these include 99 detached three-story single-family homes ranging in size from 185 to 200 square meters, 156 two- and three-story duplexes ranging in size from 150 to 221 square meters and 45 buildings with 212 attached two- and three-story “row houses” ranging in size from 130 to 165 square meters.
Two parks, each less than 1 acre in size, are also planned in the three communities.
The Altair Special Plan calls for further development. Environmental documents show that 1,750 housing units are planned for the 270 acres, as well as an elementary school, commercial space, a clubhouse, public lands, parks and trails.
The applicant for the three projects to be discussed on Wednesday is Brookfield Properties.
The Altair project was years ago. The environmental review process was completed, but conservation groups balked at construction, citing impacts on a wildlife corridor for endangered Santa Ana mountain lions and other animals.
In October 2020, a legal agreement was reached with the city to protect the corridor. The pact permanently secures a 55-acre “south parcel” – one of the few remaining passages for mountain lions between the coastal and inland mountains. According to conservation groups Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Mountain Lion Foundation and Cougar Connection, the lion population suffers from extremely low genetic diversity due to limited wildlife connectivity.
As part of the October 2020 agreement, the conservation groups withdrew their lawsuit against the construction project.
Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting will be held in the council chambers of City Hall, 41000 Main Street. The full meeting agenda can be found here.
