MISSION VIEJO : Developer to Revise Housing Proposal

The developer proposing a controversial housing project that the Planning Commission says would put too many homes on too little space will get a chance to revise the plan.

After the commission criticized the project Monday, representatives of Polygon Communities of Irvine said they will return with “options” for the 47 single-family homes planned on Costa del Sol Road near Marguerite Parkway.

Under Monday’s proposal, each house would be built on a lot of about 3,500 square feet. City standards call for a minimum of 5,000 square feet for each residence.

“It is apparent that 47 houses is an awful lot to crowd onto that little street,” Planning Commissioner Norman P. Murray said.

The project has also drawn criticism from a neighboring recreation center leased from the city by the YMCA and the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim club, who say the development would take away a large chunk of parking used by the groups.

Both say they understood that the parking lot was included when they signed their leases with the recreation center. However, the property is owned by the Mission Viejo Co., which is selling the land to Polygon Communities.

Polygon’s development plans would eliminate 77 spaces from the 228-space parking lot for home construction.