YORBA LINDA : City OKs Rezoning Undeveloped Land

City Council members have voted to change the zoning of 32 acres of open space to make way for construction of six single-family, ranch-style homes.

In a 4-1 vote last week, council members overturned a unanimous recommendation by the Planning Commission to deny the zoning change on the hillside property, which is southeast of San Antonio Road and Fairmont Boulevard on the city’s east end.

City planning officials favored keeping the open space because the city had some obligation to maintain the character of a nearby residential development. But some City Council members said open-space zoning made little sense because a private road has been built on the property leading to neighborhoods to the north and west.

“I feel five-acre units will enhance the area rather than detract from it,” said Councilman Gene Wisner, adding that development would eliminate a fire hazard from weeds and brush.

The property is part of the Yorba Linda Hills Development, the site of 1,284 housing units on 428 acres of land. So far, only 522 lots have been built or graded for development.

The developer of the proposed homes also said that the new houses would be isolated from nearby neighborhoods and would maintain the rural character of the area.

“I think it would enhance the look of the hillsides versus the weeds and sagebrush,” said Kenneth L. Nelson, who owns the property.

The land was zoned for open space in the early 1980s under an agreement between the city and the Baldwin Co., which then owed the property. At the time, officials thought the property could not be developed, and the city opted to zone the land for open space to save on maintenance costs.

“They did not think this would be developable,” said Phillip Paxton, the city’s community development director. “Times have changed. Property values have gone up.”

Councilman Irwin M. Fried voted against the zone change and said that it could have an impact on future private parcels with open-space designations.

“I think it’s opening a Pandora’s box,” he said after the meeting. “People with similar proposals are going to be knocking on our door.”