From Email InBox: Development Issues in GT

What the Legal Actions Against the City are About:

In GRAND TERRACE the city STAFF writes it's own rules for certain developments, AFTER the city council votes to approve a project.
(See page 5, specific plan prepared 10-0-2005, but project approved at 9-8-06 council meeting). So the council and the public never actually get to see what items are changed in the project. (including but not limited to zoning, general plan, density, circulation, redevelopment laws, building codes, open space, parking. etc.)

In this case the neighbors to the Sr. Housing were promised only 2-story buildings, fewer & quieter air conditioners, and sound abatement with landscaping between the buildings and the houses. The project also turned out to be low, low income housing, not low, moderate income. Many of our seniors will not qualify to live there.

Since other property owners in town do not have the option to build or develop, (because of zoning restraints) the city and redevelopment agency and their chosen partners are the ONLY ones that have a different set of economic and zoning rules. We all witnessed a local builder where it took 2 years to get a few homes approved. But 120 apartments on 2 acres was a breeze getting approved if called senior housing "villas."

The Town Center developer is being subsidized with land at less than half market price for the 4 properties currently in escrow. Not content to purchase one or two pieces of property at market price, the developer wants the city to "condemn" with eminent domain the PRIVATE property of others, so he can get it cheap to build and sell to Stater Brothers and Lowe's box stores, and leave town.

Do we support big box stores on cheap land? Or do we support private property rights and negotiation in the free marketplace?

Hopefully everyone cares about property rights and how this town turns out.