IRVINE : Developer to Present Amended Low-Income Housing Plan

A developer proposing a low- to medium-income apartment complex will return to the Planning Commission this week with an amended plan in hopes of overcoming the commission’s opposition to the project.

The Planning Commission on Aug. 3 rejected the 88-apartment project proposed for a four-acre lot at Santa Alicia and Santa Clara streets.

Commissioners objected to plans for guest parking on Santa Clara Street.

Developer Bridge Housing Corp. of San Francisco has modified the plan to include parking within the site and will present the revisions at Thursday’s commission meeting.

Residents of the city’s Westpark II community near the proposed development have expressed concerns about the size of the project and the number of lower-income tenants it might bring into their neighborhood.

The apartments would be available to those with annual earnings between $16,000 and $34,000 a year and would rent for $514 to $792 a month.

City zoning regulations require the construction of 87 low- to medium-income units on the property, regardless of who develops the site, said Ben Golvin, manager of development for Mission First Financial of Irvine, a partner with Bridge Housing in the project.

The amended design reduces the number of apartments to 84, which would be three units short of the requirement.

But because of a decrease in the number of housing units planned for the Westpark II community, Golvin said, the number may be too high.

Bridge Housing is also pursuing an appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial, Golvin said, but will withdraw it if the amended plan is approved.