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Developer's changes approved
Company sought tweaks over residents' objections
| Thursday, Jul 17 2008 11:31 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Jul 18 2008 7:34 AM
Residents of the Windermere tract and Castle & Cooke agree the community offers unique living in Bakersfield.
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Economic factors are prompting design changes, and the city's Planning Commission approved the developer's proposed tweaks at its meeting Thursday.
Homeowners love how their community looks and told commissioners they wanted its alley-accessible garages, narrow streets and open spaces that invite walking to remain.
Resident Steve Fox said he and his wife chose the community because they loved its design, including the alleys, which make the streets much less congested and more safe for his little ones.
"We love the neighborhood the way it is. We'd regret seeing it changed in a negative fashion," he said.
But the developer's "new urbanism" concept is a tough sell in the housing market and a drag on the company's finances. Castle & Cooke has sold 12 homes in two years.
"With that rate, it will take us 40 years to build out Windermere," said spokeswoman Darlene Mohlke.
Fox and his neighbors told commissioners they fear design tweaks would negatively affect their home values. Commission Chair Russell Johnson said it's hard to predict how property values will fluctuate, and he reminded residents future design changes would be discussed during public hearings.
Windermere is a different kind of subdivision for Bakersfield. But in the end, people seem to like what they know. Potential customers have told Castle & Cooke they wanted larger lots with roomier backyards.
Future homes in Windermere won't have the alleys that some within the first batch did. The community would lose about one acre of open space, but it would still offer plenty of areas to roam.
Although there's two years worth of standing inventory, the homes don't look vacant because Castle & Cooke pays more than $175,000 a year to maintain them, Mohlke said.
The project is unfinished, and that makes it a tough sell, said Louie Gregorio, who has 25 years of experience in residential real estate.
He said larger lots would be a plus in many future buyers' eyes.
MALL DEVELOPMENT
A requested zone change at Valley Plaza that will make way for a future restaurant was approved. Mall officials can't yet say which eatery may be coming to Bakersfield.
The holiday parking crunch may get a bit easier with the addition of valet parking. It would be in place from Thanksgiving through Christmas, said Donna Berlin, general manager.
EXTENSIONS
Several developers received more time to process their maps. Maps are approved with initial timeframes, and extensions may be granted with Planning Commission approval.
* K Hovnanian has a map with 751 lots on 184 acres on land that's between Paladino and Panorama drives, Masterson Street and Vineland Road.
* Lennar has a map with 314 lots on 85 acres at the southwest corner of Reina and Allen roads.
* Land that used to be owned by KB Homes and was recently sold to Global Investment features 84 lots on 20 acres near Highway 178, by Comanche Drive. Adjacent residents expressed concerns about drainage and grading conditions.
* Property owner Barcelona Housing Partners of Fresno needs time to convert a 218-unit apartment complex to condos. It's at the south side of Bernard Street, about a quarter-mile east of Mount Vernon Avenue.