Council gives zone change for condos

What happens to a final piece of a land puzzle that doesn't seem to fit?

Try changing its zoning and simultaneously raise its tax base.

The property in question is the final piece of desert nestled between single-family residences and Union Pacific Railroad tracks across from the Arroyo Grande Sports Park.

Henderson planning commissioners recommended denial of a request by J.M. Gair and Associates to change the zoning from low-density residential to medium-density residential because of surrounding residents' concerns.

The Henderson City Council Tuesday unanimously approved the zone change and the subsequent development of the Arroyo Mesa Townhomes on Arroyo Grande Boulevard, saying it felt residents' concerns had been duly addressed by the developer. Mayor Jim Gibbons abstained from the vote citing a possible conflict of interest.

The original zone-change request included amending the city's master plan for bike lanes and trails. The developer asked for the removal of a section of trail adjacent to Pittman Wash for a proposed four-plex gated subdivision of 248 units on approximately 30 acres in the Green Valley North planning area.

A spokesman for the developer told the council that residents' concerns -- including potentially lowered property values, an interrupted bike trail and increased traffic -- had been addressed and only five or six are now against the zone change.

What residents will soon find next door will be 240, two-story townhome averaging $130,000.

Of the five residents that addressed the council about the proposed development, three were opposed, while two were supportive of the builder responsible for other Henderson neighborhoods, including Whitney Ranch and South Fork.

"I don't agree with that," neighboring resident Scott Webb said referring to the cited lack of opposition. "I don't want more people living on this small section of land. When I bought my house, one of the selling points was the low-density residential zoning."

Despite the amendments -- including a proposal to move the subdivision's entrance to American Pacific Drive -- to the developer's original request, the residents' concern about more traffic on an already busy street remained.

Councilman Jack Clark said, however, this particular development would attract single homeowners as opposed to families.

"One of the concerns is more people," he said. "But condos attract people like me -- 40-year-old guys living alone. That means less traffic and overcrowding in schools."

Clark added that while he has refrained from up-zoning, this piece of land has proven difficult to develop.

"What kind of RS-6 development are we going to get? We could end up with no waivers ... and a low-end product on this piece of dirt," he said.

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