Gierson Ranch Next To Old Town Murrieta OK'd For 107 New Homes, ADUs

MURRIETA, CA — A Murrieta woman who owns nearly 21 acres near Old Town appears willing to sell most of her land to make way for a housing project that is planned with 107 single-family homes — 78 of which will include attached granny flats that can be used as rentals or for family.

On Wednesday, with Commissioner Michael LaPaglia absent, the Murrieta Planning Commission unanimously approved a development plan and tentative parcel map for the "Gierson Ranch" project named after the property's current owner, 90-year-old Esther Gierson.

The 20.63-acre lot is sandwiched between Adams Avenue to the northeast, Washington Avenue to the southwest, Brett Lane to the southeast, and Ivy Street to the northwest.

Eric Higuchi of OTM Murrieta LLC said he has been working with Gierson on the plan. His company is listed as the project applicant for the Gierson Ranch development. Higuchi told the Planning Commission that Gierson has acted as "a partner" in the project though he acknowledged he is not a builder and will sell the approved development plans. Higuchi said he has an option to purchase the property from Gierson.

Like so many properties on Murrieta's west side, the lot at 25190 Washington Avenue has a storied history. There is an existing single-family ranch home, a caretaker unit and a barn/shed on the southwest portion of the site. City documents state that a single-family residence also exists on the northwest corner.

Both homes "are unoccupied and have been for some time now," according to the documents.

The ranch house and structures at the southwest corner of the property will remain, according to the development plans. Gierson will retain approximately 3.50 acres for that residence; no development is planned there, according to Higuchi. As such, the tentative parcel map approved Wednesday includes subdivision of the land.

The Gierson tie to the land dates back to 1964 when Esther's late husband, Dr. Hyman Gierson, purchased the property in 1964; the ranch house on the southwest corner dates back to the 1800s, according to Higuchi.

Since the 1990s, the land has been zoned single-family residential, making it ripe for eager developers.

A half-dozen local residents spoke against the project during Wednesday's Planning Commission meeting. Their biggest concerns were traffic, especially on Adams Avenue, and lack of a buffer between four residences on Brett Lane — a private road — and the new project.

On April 3, the applicant and city were part of a community meeting to introduce the project and answer questions. Concerns continued to be adequately addressed in the weeks and months that followed, according to some of the opponents. However, their desire for a new traffic study is not happening, and it is unlikely that a Brett Lane buffer — beyond an approved 6-foot block wall — will be erected. Brett Lane is outside the project boundaries, according to city staff.

Wednesday's approval does not guarantee the project will get built, but the work done by Higuchi significantly paves the way for future development at the site. Given Gierson's age, it's unclear what the future holds for the 3.5 acres she plans to retain.

In October, a similar project was approved on Murrieta's west side. Read more: 62 New Homes With Granny Flats Approved For Murrieta's West Side