Temple City : Condo Permit Denied

The City Council on Tuesday temporarily denied an application to build a nine-unit condominium project on Welland Avenue, saying environmental concerns had been inadequately examined by city staff.

The council rejected the application when developers Shu-Chuan Kang and Sheng-Teh Hsieh indicated that they could not delay their project until an environmental impact report has been completed--a process City Atty. Charles Martin said might take six months. However, at the developers’ request, the council said it would consider reopening the issue if the developers can persuade their lender to accept the delay.

Neighbors of the proposed project, to be built on adjacent lots at 5341 and 5347 Welland, had sent the council a petition signed by 41 people asking that the number of units allowed on the site be reduced from nine to six and that the condominiums be limited to one story. Those objecting at the meeting Tuesday said the project would involve cutting down trees and would bring increased noise and traffic to the area. It also would strain services such as schools, police, fire, water and sewers, they said.

But a neighbor who favors the project said the condominiums would be more attractive than the structures now on the properties, which he said are vacant and in poor condition.