Los Banos Planning Commission puts Villas housing project on hold
The developers of a proposed 231 single-family unit subdivision asked the Los Banos Planning Commission for an extension Wednesday as they continue discussions with neighboring residents.
The Villas, a 55.8-acre project on 92.25 acres of farmland between Bluff Drive, Center Avenue, Pioneer Road and Rainier Drive, was continued from a May 13 meeting, in which the development plan received much backlash from residents who live just north of the property line.
The Planning Commission on Wednesday granted the developers’ representative Jeff Roberts’ request to continue the hearing to the July 27 meeting.
“We’re working on some redesign issues and it’s going to take us a little longer than we originally thought,” Roberts said, noting that he will be talking with neighbors who were concerned about the effect the project would have on their property values and sight lines.
The development, as it was presented at the May 13 meeting, showed a range of lot sizes from 4,750 square feet to more than 21,500 square feet. The density would average about 3.9 dwelling units per acre.
The land rests between the Whitehurst Funeral Chapel from the west and the Cresthills subdivisions from the north and east.
Several residents of the Cresthills subdivision to the north spoke against the plan May 13. They claimed that the plan would eliminate a “green belt” stretch of landscaping and pathway that was part of the original plan for the property 10 years ago.
The developer’s most recent plans showed ranch-style homes butting against the Cresthills homes to the north, with Cardoza Road running south of the ranch homes instead of between the ranch homes and Cresthills homes.
Roberts, on May 13, said the developer didn’t understand the full history behind the property.
The continuation of the project and comments by Roberts at the Wednesday meeting was met with approval by some residents in attendance.
“You’ll find that we don’t want a whole lot of anything,” resident Ted Meza said regarding the impact the development would have on nearby property owners. “We just want a little elbow room.”
Dental office project
Also Wednesday, a new office site plan for local dentists Ronald and Jeffrey Carter was approved by the Planning Commission.
The plan would demolish the current 1,960-square-foot building and construct a new 2,790-square-foot building at 1317 S. Sixth St.
The dentists are planning to move their practice from the office building at 400 W. I St.
The current structure most recently was home to Liberty Tax Preparation, and was once used by Century 21 real estate, Senior Planner Stacy Souza Elms said.
This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Los Banos Planning Commission puts Villas housing project on hold."