Mesa Verde project scaled back

Andrew Glazer

MESA VERDE -- Homeowners here said they had mixed feelings about the

scaled-down plans for a housing tract presented to them by developers

Wednesday.

The new plans call for 69 three- and four-bedroom homes -- 21 fewer than

developer Standard Pacific’s original design, which the City Council

rejected in February.

“It’s a step in the right direction, but it still falls short of what we

asked for,” said Karen Robinson, who lives near the project and battled

the original 90-home design with a coalition of other homeowners.

They said the new homes, which would have smaller yards than others

already there, would clash with the look of theneighborhood. And

homeowners told the council that people living there would clog streets

with added traffic and bring more students to already crowded

neighborhood schools.

Developer Standard Pacific redesigned the Adams Avenue development from

scratch, removing a gate planned to encircle the property, extending a

right-turn lane, adding a three-car garage to each home and providing a

small playground in the center of the complex.

Michael Battaglia of Standard Pacific previously had said there was no

financial incentive to build fewer than 90 homes on the land, which is

owned by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons.

But after four months of tweaking balance sheets and drafting larger

homes, the developer adjusted its plans.

Many residents did indeed say they were glad the site would have fewer

homes. But Robinson said that fact can be misleading.

She said they should be more concerned that each home’s lot would be

smaller than the 6,000 square feet recommended by the City Council.

“The huge homes imply that large families will be there,” she said. “The

strides they took to take away homes was counterbalanced by the increase

in the size of homes.”

Earlier this week, the council voted to halt any new homes from being

built on lots smaller than 5,000 square feet for 45 days. The moratorium

would not allow developers to build the Standard Pacific homes if they

hadn’t submitted the plans to the city before the May 15 cutoff date,

said Willa Bouwens-Killeen, the city planner overseeing the project.

Robin Leffler, a Mesa Verde homeowner who also has opposed the project,

said she would be satisfied if the developer chipped nine more homes off

the project.

“At this point, they’re very close to what the neighborhood wants,” she

said.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the project June 26.