La Verne : Builders’ Bargaining Chip

Two developers, whose consent is needed in the latest attempt to finance construction of an elementary school, have said they will give their OK only if the city approves their housing projects. The attempt to form a special property tax assessment district to pay for a new school in the northern part of the city depends on the approval of the two developers.

For the past five years, the city and the Bonita Unified School District have been seeking alternative ways of financing a school to serve the burgeoning area of north La Verne. The financially pinched district lacks a sufficient credit rating to float bonds for the $4-million construction cost.

Officials hope to finance the school through the formation of a Mello-Roos Assessment District, which must be approved by two-thirds of the affected property owners. In this case, more than two-thirds of the land is owned by Lewis Homes and Hughes Development Corp., both of which have submitted proposals to build large housing projects in the area.

“The developers are not going to vote yes until they have assurance from the city of approval for their projects,” City Manager Martin Lomeli said.

The Planning Commission has already balked at the 252-home Lewis project, saying that it was too dense and its lots were too small, Lomeli said. The developer has revised the project and will present it to the City Council Sept. 6.

The Lewis project is being examined by city planners.