Large Apartment Complex Proposed In Murrieta Fails To Get Rubber Stamp

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta City Councilmember Lisa DeForest is not rubber-stamping a large apartment complex planned for the corner of Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Jefferson Avenue, and the project's future is now unclear.

"I'm not opposed to the project at all, but we need to look at significant impacts" the development will have on the community, DeForest said during Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

The apartment complex is planned for 18 vacant acres at the southeast corner of Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Jefferson Avenue. The project proposes 387 apartments in 15 three-story buildings. The apartment units would range in size from 700 square feet for a one-bedroom, to 1,414 square feet for a three-bedroom.

Access to the complex would be from one driveway on Jefferson Avenue and one on Murrieta Hot Springs Road. The Jefferson driveway would be accessed through a new right-turn lane. An exit-only would also be constructed along Jefferson, south of the main driveway, according to environmental documents.

The documents show that the complex would have 788 parking spaces — a combination of garages, covered carports, and surface parking.

On March 27, the Murrieta Planning Commission recommended approval of the project's development plan and environmental documents. Following that meeting, DeForest lodged an appeal of the Planning Commission's recommendation citing concerns over "certain potentially significant impacts" the project will have on residents.

Specifically, DeForest said the project applicant failed to provide proper traffic analysis for the development as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.

DeForest wants the analysis prepared and peer-reviewed "with impacts properly analyzed and disclosed ...," she said in an April 19 appellant statement that was reviewed during Tuesday's meeting.

"I'm saddened that the analysis and disclosure aren't clear," DeForest said Tuesday.

The project is situated in the city's District 3 represented by DeForest.

DeForest's colleagues on the council agreed that more analyses are needed before they can consider the project. With a 5-0 vote Tuesday, the council continued a public hearing on the matter to July 2 to allow the applicant — Quarterra, LLC — more time to work with city staff.

During Tuesday's meeting, an attorney representing the applicant said he was unsure whether Quarterra could meet the city's demands for the project.

"No, it's probably not possible to come to an agreement," he said. When pushed by Councilmember Ron Holliday, the attorney said the company was "willing to entertain" further discussion.