The Planning Commission on July 16 approved a proposal for a 56-lot single-family subdivision on 9.88 acres on the southwest corner of La Sierra and Alhambra Avenues in the La Sierra Hills neighborhood of Ward 7.
The project, brought by Meritage Homes, proposes two distinct residential types within the same subdivision: four semi-rural residences on lots over 20,000 square feet along Alhambra Avenue, while the remaining 52 lots will consist of typical planned residential development lots ranging in size from 3,555 square feet to 7,397 square feet.
The proposed semi-rural 3,175 square foot homes would be single-story and will feature four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open kitchen/living room area, a three-car garage, a covered patio and porch. Vehicular and pedestrian access to these residences will be from Alhambra Avenue.
The two-story detached homes range in size from 2,453 square feet to 2,848 square feet and will include four or five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a two-car garage and a porch. Vehicular and pedestrian access to this portion of the subdivision is from La Sierra Avenue.
The project site currently consists of six contiguous parcels developed with three single-family residences that are accessed from La Sierra and Alhambra Avenues.
The proposal represents a significant reduction from earlier concepts for the site.
According to the applicant, previous plans called for more than 90 homes before revisions prompted by neighborhood feedback reduced the project to 56 larger lots with additional open space and landscaping.
Residents living near the property nevertheless continued to express concerns about traffic on La Sierra Avenue, emergency evacuation during wildfires, school crowding and the loss of open space.
"We want to say we're not trying to block this development. We're supportive of new homes in Riverside, but just done responsibly," said one resident. "And we're here today to advocate for the safe traffic environment and legal protections of our existing rural lifestyle."
The resident said he was concerned that the development's design will force pedestrians and students to cross La Sierra "without any safe infrastructure in place."
Commissioners asked detailed questions about evacuation planning, access points, grading, drainage and the project's consistency with the city's General Plan.
Planning staff said the environmental review and traffic studies concluded the project would not create significant unavoidable impacts and that required roadway improvements would accompany development.
However, before voting, commissioners amended the conditions of approval to require construction of a median opening on La Sierra Avenue aligned with the project's primary entrance. The staff report had recommended against adding a median break, citing a traffic study that said there are no traffic operation benefits to adding such a break.
Commissioners, however, said the median is intended to improve traffic circulation and access for residents entering and leaving the neighborhood.
The commission then voted unanimously to approve the subdivision.
With Thursday's approval, the project will move forward through the city's development process under the conditions adopted by the Planning Commission.
The approvals come as Riverside continues to fall short of its state-mandated housing targets. The city has permitted no new very-low-income housing since 2021 and has met less than 20 percent of its overall obligation under the state's regional housing needs allocation, which requires Riverside to plan for 18,458 new homes between 2021 and 2029.
Correction Wed. July 22, 2:34 p.m.
An earlier version of this story, titled "Planning Commission OKs Magnolia Center Townhomes, La Sierra Subdivision," misstated the size of this project site as roughly 16 acres. The site is 9.88 acres. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
