Local News in Brief : San Diego : Developer Given OK to Enlarge Mira Mesa Project

The San Diego City Council voted, 7-2, Tuesday to allow the Pardee Construction Co. to build an additional 289 housing units in a large proposed Mira Mesa development that straddles Black Mountain Road, a two-lane byway already glutted by commuters trying to reach Interstate 15.

As a trade-off for the increased density, Pardee agreed to pay for $12 million in public improvements--including the widening of the portion of Black Mountain Road that runs through the project.

Pardee’s Westview development originally called for 1,544 housing units over 215 acres in northeast Mira Mesa. The developer asked for an increase to 1,898 units, but the council pared that down to 1,833.

Mike Madigan, Pardee senior vice president, said after Tuesday’s council hearing that it will be at least until the end of 1989 before Pardee will build the new homes.

Before they can be occupied, however, the company has to complete the public improvements, he said.

Besides widening Black Mountain Road, the improvements include building Westview Parkway, to run roughly parallel to Black Mountain Road; building an Olympic-sized swimming pool and double field house on a 30-acre park on the grounds of Miramar College; accelerating the construction of a smaller neighborhood park; and adding five acres to the Hage Elementary School site for a park.

The council members who voted in favor of Pardee’s request said the trade-offs provided by the developer--especially the widening of Black Mountain Road--would more than offset the added density. Pushing for approval was Councilman Ed Struiksma, who represents the Mira Mesa area.

Voting against the increase were Mayor Maureen O’Connor and Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer.