FULLERTON : Housing Project Gets OK From Planners

Unocal Land & Development Co. has cleared the first hurdle toward building a 164-acre housing project with the Planning Commission’s approval of the development.

The next step for the project is to receive approval from the City Council. The project first appeared before the council in September, 1989. The council rejected the plan at that time after a group of homeowners near the Imperial Golf Course expressed concern that the proposal to extend Placentia Avenue would create more traffic and noise.

The plan has since been revised. It now calls for 474 homes to be built north of Rolling Hills Drive and east of Kraemer Boulevard, and also for parks and recreational facilities.

“As far as I’m concerned, Unocal has come up with a very good plan,” Planning Commissioner Jack King said. “Our chief concern the first time they presented their plan two years ago was the absence of a greenbelt concept, which is required in the city’s master plan. However, they have made the corrections.”

Unocal has also revised its plans for the Placentia Avenue extension. As proposed now, the expanded parkway would be 31 feet wide, include a 16-foot landscaped median from Imperial Highway to Rolling Hills Drive, and have walkways, trees and drought-tolerant plants.

The project site now lies in the cities of Fullerton and Brea. However, the Brea City Council decided on Jan. 3 to allow Fullerton to annex 64 acres because Brea would not be able to provide the city services needed for the project should it be completed.