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Windermere residents worry about design changes
| Wednesday, Jul 16 2008 7:24 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 17 2008 9:29 AM
To homeowner and admitted “Disney geek” Ernie Montes de Oca, the Windermere development looked like the happiest place on Earth.
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• A zone change and tweaks at Valley Plaza Mall proposed by owner General Growth Properties that would make way for a restaurant pad along Ming Avenue.
City planners asked the developer to install two turning lanes on Ming for traffic flow. One would be at Castro Lane, the other at the Macy’s entrance. General Growth has asked to place only one lane.
An additional requirement is a “5-foot wide meandering sidewalk” that would extend from an existing bus stop on Ming to the mall’s main entrance, as well as upgrades to the bus stop, such as a bench with covered shelter.
• A zone change to aid future commercial development on land at the northwest corner of Allen and Brimhall roads.
The commission meets at 5:30 p.m. tonight at 1501 Truxtun Ave.
You can watch the meeting live on KGOV, the local government television station that also broadcasts meetings over the Internet.
The agenda is available at www.bakersfieldcity.us under the Development Services Department link.
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One of the reasons Ernie Montes de Oca chose a home in the Windermere development was the fact that the garage is located off alley access making for a more attractive front elevation of the house.
Parkerhill Drive resembles a movie set: well-appointed homes line narrow streets, and emerald community areas spill into one another. Statues of robed women grace a fountain, creating an idyllic place to sit and talk to neighbors.
But now, developer Castle & Cooke is proposing changes to the remaining unbuilt areas — putting in larger lots and removing alleys in its development off Buena Vista Road and Chamber Boulevard in the southwest.
“It totally goes against what we bought into,” Montes de Oca said.
It’s unclear what’s prompting the tweaks, but Castle & Cooke will have its chance to share its reasons at tonight’s Bakersfield Planning Commission meeting. Commissioners will consider a proposed zone change for Windermere in the undeveloped sections as well as a tract map.
Castle & Cooke representatives could not be reached for comment.
In an e-mail to the city Planning Department, residents Kamal and Linda Aboshamaa said they chose to buy in Windermere because of its character, charm and “classic American feel.”
Their immaculate yellow Victorian-style home has an inviting porch she loves and white wraparound fence. In recent talks with Castle & Cooke, Linda Aboshamaa and others emphasized how much they love Windermere — but that the project seems to be a victim of tough times.
“There’s nothing wrong with the design,” she said. “It’s just the economy.”
Windermere homeowners learned of proposed changes in late June, and some worry the proposed changes could equate to diminished property values.
In a letter signed by residents to company President Bruce Freeman, homeowners stated that the plans they saw in 2005 made them want to invest in Windermere.
“We find at best we have been uninformed, and at worst misled and deceived. The proposed changes are inconsistent with the theme and design of our unique neighborhood.”
Montes de Oca believes market conditions may be driving changes to Windermere’s concept.
“At the end of the day, if they’re not making money, they need to somehow figure out how to make money,” he said. “It’s understandable where we’re at in the economy; there’s lots of houses. It’s a bummer for us. We’ve spent our life savings on a product they’ve glorified, marketed (and) now they want to change it."