Wildomar Paves Way For High-Density Apartments Near Upscale Communities

Low-income apartments may someday be situated along Clinton Keith Road in Wildomar, near Southwest Riverside County's ritzy communities of Bear Creek and La Cresta in Murrieta’s sphere of influence.

During the Dec. 11 Wildomar City Council meeting, council members approved the city’s 2013-2021 Housing Element Update, which includes allowing for approximately 23.43 acres to be developed into a mixture of high-density housing, retail, commercial, and office on the south side of Clinton Keith Road, at Grand Avenue, along the edge of the City of Murrieta border.

The city also approved the same for approximately 63.81 acres at Central Street and Baxter Road, on the west side of the 15 Freeway. Approximately 12.32 acres along Mission Trail, near Lake Elsinore, and approximately 22.42 acres, just east of the 15 Freeway along Clinton Keith Road, were also approved for the same. (See attached map for the detail.)

Additionally, 25.96 acres underwent land-use changes as part of the Housing Element Update. They include 5.06 acres just west of the 15 Freeway along the City of Murrieta border; 4.99 acres at Corydon; 5.91 acres just west of the 15 Freeway along the City of Murrieta border; and 10 acres on the south side of Clinton Keith, east of the 15 Freeway. All except the 10-acre site had land-use changes that went from medium high-density residential to highest-density residential. The 10-acre site formerly had a land-use designation of business park, but it too was changed to highest-density residential. Council members voted to table an ordinance that would have rezoned all four parcels from rural residential to planned residential.

Under state law, all California cities are required to adopt a Housing Element as part of their general plans. The Housing Element mandates that cities meet the existing and projected housing needs of residents of all income levels, including “extremely low,” “very low,” and “low income.”

By reserving space for high-density housing -- such as apartments – cities can satisfy these housing requirements mandated by the state. To meet the Housing Element requirements, Wildomar needed to plan for 1,574 housing units to satisfy all three of the lower income categories.

As part of the Housing Element Update approval, Wildomar city council members determined that no more than 50 percent of any of the mixed-use planning areas can be developed into multi-family residences.

During the Dec. 11 council meeting, councilman Ben Benoit said he and his colleagues do not want the high-density housing, but there is no choice due to state law.

Councilman Bob Cashman particularly objected to high-density along the west side of Clinton Keith, saying there are environmental concerns in the area and he questioned whether there were more suitable areas in the city.

During winter months, that area along Clinton Keith Road at Grand Avenue is often running with water from the Murrieta Creek. If a developer does step up and propose a project for the area, however, an environmental impact report would likely be required. At press time, there are no projects that have been brought forward to the city for the area.