Council Approves Zone Change For New Bonnie Cove, Gladstone Development

The Glendora City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a General Plan Amendment that would allow a 21-unit detached condominium project in a long-empty lot on Gladstone Street and Bonnie Cove Avenue.

The decision comes after a decision was deferred to the city staff for further research in June, despite overwhelming support from residents in the area.

The site sits on a controversial lot where a previous medical facility expansion was approved in 2007, a project residents in the area vehemently opposed.

This time, the project proposed by the Olson Company of two-story 1,501 to 1,617-square-foot detached condominium homes, gained positive support from area residents.

“These are small homes that fit in with the neighborhood,” said resident Erica Landmann.  “It’s going to be a nice project and the neighborhood likes the project. We love it.”

However, city staff initially opposed the project, insisting that the required General Plan amendment for the project was not in the best interest of the city and not an appropriate use of the development zone. The project required a change to a Residential 2 zoning, which allows for higher density development, instead of a Residential 1 zone, which most homes in the area fall into.

“It is clear that the community does not want that medical facility in that corner in its current configuration or as an expanded medical facility. The planning department agrees with that,” Planning Director Jeff Kugel said in during a council meeting in June. “But we don’t think that simply because there is this project before us, which would put this area at an R2 at a higher density, that we should grant that simply because it’s better than a medical facility.

After reviewing further research by city staff, council members unanimously voted 5-0 to approve the zone change to R2, therefore allowing Olson Company project to proceed. However, there were some conditions to the approval, including a requirement that the Olson Company pay half of the cost of a $178,000 traffic light that was installed to minimize traffic from the adjacent medical facility, and come to an agreement regarding the relocation of a water meter.

The project had also been reduced from 23 units to 21 units to accommodate the council’s setback concerns.

While the council approved the zone change, council members expressed concern that the decision could create a ripple effect of other developers seeking zone changes to accommodate more high density projects.

“Be careful what you wish for because your neighborhood could be faced with higher density development like this one,” said Council Member Doug Tessitor.