Contested Apartment Complex Approved by Murrieta City Council

Tuesday night’s Murrieta City Council meeting lasted nearly six hours, with four of those hours dedicated to a discussion about an apartment complex highly contested by its future neighbors.

Just after 11 p.m., Council members voted 4-1, with Mayor Pro Tem Harry Ramos casting the lone dissenting vote, to approve a general plan amendment and zone change for the 112-unit complex proposed by Golden Eagle Multi-Family Properties, LLC.

The company plans to develop the apartments on 7.47 acres along Murrieta Hot Springs Road, just east of Via Princesa and the Calvary Chapel Conference Center and Bible College.

Most of the acreage was already zoned for apartments within the city’s General Plan, but an amendment was needed for 1.05 acres that border a tract known as The Preserve. That parcel on the northwestern edge of the property, zoned for open space/parks and recreation, will be used for the complex’s recreation amenities, including a pool.

The vote followed several rounds of questions posed to city staff and the developer.

Council also heard from several residents who oppose the project. At least 75 of them packed City Council chambers, waiting for their chance to speak during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Many said the project would only add to alleged unsafe traffic conditions that include cars speeding through their neighborhood that is situated just north of the project site. Adding more cars would be the tipping point, many residents said, despite city traffic studies that staff said point to minimal effects from the complex.

Residents’ complaints, which they said they have been trying to get the city to resolve since at least 2005, are that too many motorists use their neighborhood streets as a shortcut to avoid the intersection at Murrieta Hot Springs and Winchester roads.

“I haven’t done any scientific studies but I have living proof, I live there,” said Arlene White.

She lives on Clearbrook Drive, which is accessed from Via Princesa.

“When we have to go to our mailbox, because we have to cross the street, I literally have to run. They don’t stop,” White said. “Please, there has to be more that can be done, whether it is a speed bump, or a closure or more signs.”

Resident Dan Christensen said he has been assaulted by motorists when he asked them to slow down. Christensen lives on Woodbridge Drive, off of Clearbrook. One time he was spat on, he said, and another time a man got out of his car and started swinging at him. He said it was not the quality of life he moved to Murrieta for, and urged the City Council to take action.

It was Councilman Rick Gibbs who suggested bringing the traffic issue, and what the city can do to help alleviate it, back as a separate item before Council. Gibbs admitted the neighborhood was “plagued” with traffic, a problem he said the city inherited when that area was annexed from the county.

“That however, is not this developer’s fault,” Gibbs said.

All but Ramos agreed with Gibbs’ motion that the amendment and zoning change be granted Tuesday night. Ramos said the traffic issue should be dealt with prior to approving the project.

“Even one additional car, I can not support that until we address the original issue,” Ramos said.

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