Shady Grove redesign approved by Planning Commission

The county’s Planning Commission voted to approve a proposed revision of the architectural design and floor plans for the Shady Grove development.

The Planning Commission has the authority to modify a Major Use Permit, although its decision can be appealed to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

James Gaynor Street resident Mickie St. Pierre indicated that she may appeal the Planning Commission’s December 5 decision.

The Planning Commission voted 5-0-1 to approve the modification of the Major Use Permit for Shady Grove, with Commissioner David Kreitzer absent and Commissioner Michael Beck abstaining.

The modification adds three new designs to the six designs approved at previous hearings. The three new designs will have of 1,690, 1,997, and 2,275 square feet.

“We’re not asking for any increase in density. We’re not asking for any reduction in lot sizes,” said Chris Brown, who represented KB Home.

St. Pierre noted that homes would now range from 1,690 to 3,500 square feet, which is a 52-percent difference.

“How can a finding be made concerning harmony and scale?” she said.

The Planned Residential Development southeast of the intersection of Gum Tree Lane and Stage Coach Lane consists of 101 single-family residential lots and eight open space or recreation lots.

The modification allows for the building of 40 homes built using the designs previously approved and 61 homes constructed with the new designs.

Consideration will be taken to group the locations of the home designs to create the appearance of distinct villages within the development to limit contrast.

Language in the modification prohibits more than 40 percent of any house type to be used in the new tract.

No less than 10 percent of any house type can be used in the new tract.

No house type will be used for more than three consecutive lots, and if the same house type is used for adjacent homes one shall be the reverse of the other and will have a different architectural theme.

No two adjacent homes with the same house type will have the same exterior color scheme.

In July 2003 the county’s Planning and Environmental Review Board approved a tentative map and Major Use Permit for the 62.8-acre Shady Grove development with floor plans ranging in size from 2,100 to 3,100 square feet and all homes consisting of a single story.

In June 2005 the Planning Commission approved a Major Use Permit modification replacing the original designs with four new designs ranging from 2,600 to 3,500 square feet and with two-story floor plans.

In July 2006 Department of Planning and Land Use staff approved a minor deviation to allow a two-foot encroachment into the front yard setback, which enabled the inclusion of architectural pop-outs into the home design.

In December 2006 DPLU staff approved a minor deviation to add home designs of 2,250 and 2,290 square feet.

The development has taken place in phases, and during a March 20 meeting between Shady Grove residents and KB Home project manager Eric Scheck, Scheck informed the residents that KB Home would no longer build the current models and would offer homes ranging from 1,600 to 2,200 square feet throughout the remaining phases.

Scheck also informed the residents that the new homes would sell for prices between $300,000 and $500,000, which is significantly lower than the cost of the existing homes.

KB Home cited the downturn in the economy and the lack of a market for higher-end homes.

“The size of the homes are based on the market,” Brown said.

The Planning Commission’s April 4 meeting included discussion of correspondence from St. Pierre regarding concerns of residents to the plans of KB Home to downsize models in the development.

Residents have expressed concern that the smaller homes would decrease the value of existing homes and alter the demographics of the neighborhood.

St. Pierre’s letter indicated that demand for the higher-end homes still exists.

The Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted 9-0 September 15 to recommend approval of the Major Use Permit modification.

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