City Council Approves Controversial Housing Development After 20-Year Delay

The Riverside City Council approved a controversial 25-unit luxury housing development on September 10 that has been in limbo for nearly 20 years. The project will rezone 14.96 acres, many of which burned during the recent Hawarden Hills Fire, from public facilities to residential conservation, despite concerns from some residents about environmental impact and trail placement.

Council member Conder, who represents the area, moved to approve the project. "We need places for people to live," Conder said, adding that the development would help reduce fire danger. "Putting houses in there and having the proper fire breaks will help protect the other homes in the area."

The project has undergone several modifications since its initial proposal. The number of residential lots has been reduced from 28 to 25, allowing for additional open space within the development.

A third-party conservatorship will manage these open areas, ensuring they remain undeveloped and protected.

Mohamed Yunus, representing the developer, addressed the long delay in bringing the project to fruition. "The economic condition has changed. Now we're in a position to move forward and be able to record the map and pay for the improvement," Yunus explained.

However, not all council members were fully convinced. Council member Cervantes expressed reservations about the project's long delay and the lack of recent community engagement.

"I'd felt more comfortable if this could have potentially gone back to planning commission again," Cervantes said, "just to have heard what they had thought and potentially if there had been some more neighborhood engagement."

Several residents with homes adjacent to the property voiced concerns during the public comment period. Still, the project has garnered support from the Friends of Riverside Hills, a community group that had previously opposed the development. The group now backs the project following modifications that increase overall open space and pull grading further away from sensitive arroyo areas.

The approval comes with conditions requiring a third-party conservatorship to manage open space areas. This measure aims to address concerns about the long-term preservation of the natural environment during development.

The motion to approve the project passed with Cervantes casting the lone dissenting vote. The decision marks a significant milestone for a development that has faced numerous hurdles, including economic downturns and changing regulations, since its initial proposal two decades ago.