[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6353230,"mediaKeyId","2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f","parentId",2221564,"title","El Centro council approves Willow Bend subdivision addendum, pre-zoning and annexation; traffic, drainage and park conditions modified","audioSeconds",5270,"startMs",1532000,"endMs",6802000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f&start=1532&end=6802","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f/thumbnail_1532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353230/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/El-Centro-council-approves-Willow-Bend-subdivision-addendum-pre-zoning-and-annexation-traffic-drainage-and-park-conditions-modified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353230-c87695a272fab2911d047e8ed60031f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776489539&Signature=VA3zqz74~vXGVBi8p2KBT2pzZEvuOPR~2FJNcLVtffGUPmaIFkN-03D9QlbxbSbyOblnSQYSIbuI6RGpL49Bep7yE~HDqmW-upypBMnp1Vw2HKH0G1hZNg1PDK-yLEUicZZ03UAtDbUVR9jXEXyW2cxqlOOFaoHbk9mARTdYbGQjdFUvhNFFItPqRob6n0BIax3n5xXuTr-gIBPmp-F-kpORqdSefar2ufCAaKi~b7seGFxO4C1vgz~XLIOcRhmd19c5MZ3XctN0rFHVVl2gXXawSOYWRo5sNlp3wNI0Fla9r6ScXagF1zTVVg1p4x4gAKcgqXMJf6DXaMfDgnq5RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of El Centro CA","date","2025-02-05T02:02:29Z","article","The El Centro City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve an addendum to the Willow Bend final environmental impact report, adopt revised conditions of approval, pre-zone the project site to R‑1 (single-family) and consent to annexation of the property into the city pending Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) action.

The moves clear the way for a revived subdivision proposal for a 40-acre site east of Fourth Street, now planned as 20 single-family lots with a 1.37-acre park and a roughly 1.48-acre retention basin. Angel Hernandez, city planning staff, told the council the updated plan is a scaled-down revision to the map originally approved in February 2007 and said staff recommended approval of the EIR addendum and the related zoning and annexation items.

The project’s owner and applicant, Marty Coyne, presented the developer’s goals to council, describing local projects his company has completed and saying the Willow Bend plan is intended to “create an affordable, beautiful community” and to bring new homes and related tax and permit revenue to El Centro.

Why it matters: the council’s actions reset a long-dormant subdivision for development under current standards while carving out several conditions intended to limit impacts. The updated conditions change transportation and drainage requirements that were written into the 2007 approval, and attach new financial obligations to the developer for infrastructure work tied to regional access.

Key details and council concerns

- Scope and design: The current proposal reduces the original 2007 layout from 34 lots to 20 lots, with lot sizes reported between about 6,020 and 8,292 square feet. The applicant described single-story homes up to roughly 1,800 square feet with two-car garages and three-to-four-bedroom floor plans; exact unit counts by bedroom will be set during plan review.

- Park and drainage: The plan includes a 1.37-acre park centralized in the subdivision and a 1.484-acre detention/retention basin located along the project’s northern boundary. Staff reported the project will keep an existing open drainage channel rather than undergrounding the drain as in the 2007 plan; where the drain fronts streets, the developer must install fencing (three‑rail or wrought iron as appropriate) to control access. The park location was changed to improve resident access because the drain will not be piped and buried.

- Transportation and Caltrans: The council and residents pressed the developer and staff about traffic at the project’s primary intersection with State Route 86 (SR‑86/Fourth Street). Staff said the required transportation study concluded the project, as currently proposed, does not meet California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) signal warrants and that Countryside Drive would be controlled with, at minimum, an all‑way stop or other Caltrans‑approved treatment. Final intersection improvements are contingent on Caltrans’ intersection control evaluation, and the city noted a future decision by Caltrans could require a signal or other changes before later certificates of occupancy are issued.

- Infrastructure costs and triggers: Staff recommended, and council approved, a condition requiring the applicant to contribute $325,000 toward pipeline/drain improvements (an ACA-style contribution) that will be triggered when the subdivision reaches 100 homes completed in aggregate. Staff explained the contribution is intended to help fund canal/drain relocations or pipeline work where Countryside Drive will cross the existing drain.

- Utilities and connectivity: Water will be extended from Fourth Street; sewer will connect into a sewer trunk currently under construction (the solar/palpitation project referenced by staff). The project proposes to extend Countryside Drive east–west to create a future east–west connection that staff says will help disperse traffic as surrounding properties develop.

Council action and votes at a glance

- Item 4 — Addendum to the Final EIR for the Willow Bend tentative subdivision (Resolution 25‑07): approved 5‑0.
- Item 5 — Amendments to the conditions of approval for Willow Bend (Resolution amending earlier conditions): approved 5‑0.
- Item 6 — Amend the zoning map to pre‑zone the project site R‑1 (single‑family): approved 5‑0.
- Item 7 — Resolution consenting to annexation EC‑1‑24 (action to initiate annexation and LAFCO submittal): approved 5‑0.

Each of the four items was moved and approved in separate roll-call votes during the same hearing; the minutes record the council’s unanimous votes on all four actions.

Discussion, remaining conditions and next steps

Council discussion focused heavily on safety and circulation: members asked whether two driveways and the proposed Countryside Drive connection would be sufficient given existing and projected development across SR‑86. Staff and the project applicant said the traffic study evaluated peak-hour flows and concluded current conditions do not require a signal, but that Caltrans retains authority to require a signal if its independent evaluation finds it is warranted.

Angel Hernandez said the city will seek Caltrans’ final determination and that some required improvements (widening a segment of Fourth Street, frontage landscaping, and other frontage improvements) remain in the updated conditions of approval. The applicant, Marty Coyne, told council he has invested in similar rescue-redevelopment projects in the area and said Countryside Estates across the street shows the long-term value of completed subdivisions.

The annexation still requires LAFCO approval. The applicant must submit final maps, grading and improvement plans and building permits; staff said an addendum to the 2007 EIR was appropriate because the scaled-back project does not create impacts beyond those previously identified. The council directed staff to proceed with LAFCO submittal, finalize conditions of approval per the amendments adopted, and return as needed for ministerial plan checks and permits.

Ending

With the four approvals, the council cleared the primary regulatory steps that let the developer advance to final mapping and permit review. Several policy and engineering conditions remain — notably Caltrans’ intersection decision, the $325,000 contribution trigger tied to pipeline work, and fencing/park design tied to the open drain — and staff said those items must be resolved through engineering plans and future permit approvals before building permits and occupancy are finalized.

Quotes

\"This presentation will be covering items 4 through 7 of the council agenda, and it's regarding the Willow Bend tentative subdivision map,\" Angel Hernandez, city planning staff, told the council as he opened the public hearing.

\"We want to create an affordable, beautiful community,\" Marty Coyne, applicant and property owner, said in his presentation to council, describing the developer’s goals for the project and examples of prior local work.

\"If conditions change at a later date, we can always revisit this,\" Angel Hernandez said in response to a council question about future changes to intersection access.

Sources and provenance

Primary documentary sources for this article are the meeting transcript and the staff presentation recorded at the El Centro City Council meeting on Feb. 4, 2025. Topic discussion begins in the transcript where staff opened the public hearing and presented the Willow Bend materials and ends where council completed the annexation vote and closed the hearing.

Lede provenance: transcript excerpt beginning at 1532.5349s: \"Yes. Good evening, mayor, madam mayor Pro Tem, and member of city council. This presentation will be covering items 4 through 7 of the council agenda, and it's regarding the Willow Bend tenant subdivision map.\"

Finish provenance: transcript excerpt beginning at 6791.8247s: \"That item also passes 5 0. Colleagues, thank you so much for supporting the public hearing process. To the developers and to all of the staff, Godspeed.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of El Centro Council Meeting :: February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The El Centro City Council voted 5-0 on Feb. 4 to approve an addendum to a 2007 environmental impact report, update conditions of approval, pre-zone the site R‑1 and consent to annexation for the Willow Bend tentative subdivision map, clearing the way for a 20‑lot single‑family development with a 1.37‑acre park and modified drainage and traffic conditions.","taxTitle","El Centro, Imperial County, California","taxId",3830,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353220,"Council approves $65,000 parks work truck purchase from Measure P funds",241,8185000,8426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f&start=8185&end=8426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f/thumbnail_8185000.jpg","/articles/6353220/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/Council-approves-65000-parks-work-truck-purchase-from-Measure-P-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353220-cb182852e1ecb4bf78d2643fef94f1e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776489539&Signature=hldNwKM3oBy1WzPNq5YFPyPg4RhiEdFvbWj1bwQ77BXbcw3gjiOhW1TbSKRwAN4jM-ejjhILw47DMHIFLhHUKAqtwTiWVozA-MxsxuQvb4NFq~7vT42ac63iSy6kEsvIYTIj7tj6Qg64pFRI~1Vgw9Mb9z-RbPZXog4Pa9TpfCgpcOK5yXd1zivqRnfBJMWp0GUS0Ks3d3RBHetPy8-H8BvqS77ZTQ2lgHTI~n5X66unOxDEQ3L0v9FTMQcnWJm0CF5p2yeiazApBUyAEnmQJVF6VN6JxeXZSjuyvlQLsuFTN7KlLWP6Lg71lXObkzKOLTGD6MiYgQpgN3XuGMQuaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Centro City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to approve the purchase of a parks work truck requested by the community services department.

Adriana Knapp, community services director, presented the request and said the truck is included in the fiscal 2025 budget under Measure P allocations but exceeded the city manager’s $50,000 administrative threshold, so council approval was required. Knapp said the quoted cost from the vendor Paradise was about $65,000 and that parks staff sought multiple bids and prioritized vehicle capacity and equipment because the parks crew pulls floats and uses a lift for heavy work.

Why it matters: the purchase replaces an older 2012 truck used by parks operations and is intended to provide a heavier‑duty, better‑equipped vehicle for the parks lead worker. The city will determine the disposition of the replaced 2012 truck after shops inspect its condition; past practice has included donation or reassignment.

Details and funding

- Cost and procurement: staff presented a competitive quote; the vendor price listed in the staff report was approximately $65,000. Parks staff noted they first seek local suppliers when possible but must go outside the area when local stock does not meet specifications.

- Funding source: the purchase is budgeted in the FY25 budget and funded from Measure P allocations; staff said the purchase is within the adopted budget for the fiscal year.

- Replacement vehicle: the existing 2012 truck will be evaluated by shops for reuse, sale or donation; staff will report back if a formal disposition action is required.

Council action

Council members moved and seconded the item and approved the resolution authorizing the purchase in a unanimous vote. No members of the public provided comment on the item.

Quote

\"We always try locally first, but they don't always have what we need in stock,\" Adriana Knapp said in explaining the bid process and vendor selection.

Ending

Staff said the truck purchase will proceed under the city’s procurement process with shop additions as needed; the purchase will support routine parks maintenance and operations.","The council approved purchase of a work truck for the parks parts division, funded from the FY25 budget/Measure P allocation; price quote on the record was about $65,000 and the vehicle replaces a 2012 unit whose disposition will be determined by staff.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353223,"Council adopts Imperial Avenue Complete Streets Plan to add bike, pedestrian and transit improvements",1346,6817000,8163000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f&start=6817&end=8163","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221564-33d890350f922d3200c0ba64ff41d34f/thumbnail_6817000.jpg","/articles/6353223/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/Council-adopts-Imperial-Avenue-Complete-Streets-Plan-to-add-bike-pedestrian-and-transit-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353223-53ea9ad5b38a340d73acbed5ec87768d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776489539&Signature=HwOxE0kpGv4QscYqyYIZMEi3X~BVW10~QXrTRzK9a9fizEFn-XEDwY1fRrnkfFewVys72T2Dp5iiY~5X8KvbH-gPfWCWdIWGw3G4qiaAzJOMnKsXnAtSX9J6vuDJHspRH70AhCvNM~wJSTesXuuZsK5VJiEM96BKf4CK0~qjXM6w5LxQyPAMj996p-ViDF5Z8lP9YL~cp0JNs9PMyiW2RXk5k-28-F0K9IpIM~toExHhLq3JlnsvHDIhLMDascq3dY54QcikodadxwDF8GkpFQK6FjKINowSaQfyto2SZKHIHRJpTJZnvl1RGYi~g67qqGS0upjJEmn8YpNGTvjjSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Centro City Council adopted the Imperial Avenue Complete Streets Plan 5-0 on Feb. 4, endorsing a multi-segment concept to improve walking, bicycling, transit access and street greening along the corridor from Adams Avenue to the northern city limit.

The plan — funded through a Caltrans Sustainable Communities grant and developed by consulting firm K2A with community engagement led by Catherine Padilla & Associates — lays out a preferred 30%‑level design and an implementation roadmap intended to guide future engineering, grant applications and construction.

Jacob Leon, a K2A consultant, summarized the plan’s goals: increase safety and comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists, improve equity of access, support reliable transit, and preserve automobile operations where needed for this regional corridor. The recommended design breaks the corridor into three segments (Adams to Scott; Scott to Lincoln; Lincoln to the northern limit) and proposes Class I multi‑use paths in some sections, separated bike facilities in others, and added high‑visibility crossings and transit stop upgrades.

Why it matters: Imperial Avenue is a major east–west corridor through El Centro with long blocks and destinations on both sides; the plan is intended to make the street safer and more usable for people who do not drive and to create grant‑ready design drawings for future project funding.

Key elements

- Corridor: roughly 1.5 miles from Adams Avenue to the northern city boundary; design divided into three segments for incremental implementation.
- Active‑transportation facilities: Class I multi‑use paths (shared bicycle/pedestrian paths) are recommended where right‑of‑way allows, plus separated bikeways in the Adams‑to‑Scott segment and green conflict striping at key intersections.
- Crossings and transit: new east–west crossings were proposed at locations including Via Lincoln (and considered at El Dorado), with upgraded transit stops, pedestrian‑scale lighting and accessibility improvements.
- Funding and next steps: the plan includes a funding table and identifies federal and state grant opportunities; K2A delivered the planning package and recommended the city use it for future engineering and grant applications.

Council questions focused on safety and technical details. One councilmember asked about separation between bicycle and pedestrian paths north of the railroad tracks; K2A said the Class I multi‑use path includes a physical buffer from moving traffic and that railroad crossings will require additional, project‑level safety review by engineers and railroad/Caltrans staff. City staff and consultants also noted coordination with the City of Imperial is needed to ensure improvements connect across the northern city boundary.

The council’s unanimous vote followed a planning commission recommendation to move the plan forward. Jacob Leon thanked community members and local stakeholders for extensive public engagement, including pop‑up events and workshops that informed the preferred design.

Ending

Adoption of the Complete Streets plan does not itself allocate construction funds; instead it provides a community‑vetted design and an implementation table to be used for grant applications and engineering design. Staff said the plan positions the city to pursue funding and implementation when priorities and grant cycles align.

Quotes

\"It has been one of my most rewarding projects because the community actually cares,\" Jacob Leon, K2A consultant, said after presenting the final plan. \"They really told us this is an important corridor for them and that this could make a difference in the future.\"","The City Council unanimously adopted a Complete Streets plan for Imperial Avenue that maps a phased concept from Adams Avenue to the northern city limit, including multi‑use paths, separated bike lanes in key segments, improved transit stops and pedestrian crossings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

El Centro council approves Willow Bend subdivision addendum, pre-zoning and annexation; traffic, drainage and park conditions modified

Council approves $65,000 parks work truck purchase from Measure P funds

Council adopts Imperial Avenue Complete Streets Plan to add bike, pedestrian and transit improvements