Tustin May Rezone Area for Higher Density

The Planning Commission on Monday will consider rezoning a recently annexed strip of residential property to allow higher density.

When the 2.3 acres at Holt and Warren avenues was annexed in 1989, some North Tustin residents opposed it, predicting that Tustin would rezone it to allow multifamily units instead of the five single family homes that are there now.

Some of those same people oppose the rezoning, and the city’s Planning Department has received several letters and phone calls about the issue.

“This will be a test case as to Tustin’s philosophy on (rezoning) as far as residential property goes,” said one of the opponents, Bill Weber, president of the Foothill Communities Assn.

The city planning staff has recommended denial of the zoning change, which would require an amendment to the General Plan. In a report to the Planning Commission, staff members wrote that reclassifying the property is inconsistent with the General Plan and could affect future proposals to annex North Tustin properties.