Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pulte Buffalo Drive topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Town board approves zone change, rejects waivers and tentative map for Buffalo Drive infill
Summary
The Spring Valley board approved a zone change and a right-of-way vacation for a 3.02-acre parcel on Buffalo Drive but denied waivers for retaining wall height and intersection offset and denied the proposed 20‑lot tentative map.
The Spring Valley Town Advisory Board approved a zone change and a right-of-way vacation for a 3.02-acre infill site on the east side of Buffalo Drive at Mesa Vista Avenue but denied requested waivers and the tentative map for a 20-lot single-family subdivision.
Tony Celeste, representing applicant Pulte Homes, presented the application and said the site — formerly Department of Aviation property purchased at auction — conforms with the neighborhood plan and would develop 20 single-family homes with lot sizes ranging about 4,000 to 5,400 square feet. Celeste explained the proposal would require increased retaining wall height because of existing topography and drainage channels and a minor intersection offset at a private street connection.
A nearby resident, David Ochoa (5350 Pine Ranch), said he welcomed development on a parcel used for illegal truck parking and asked about the vacate/abandon request; Celeste clarified the vacation would allow a five-foot amenities zone (landscaping and sidewalk) within the right-of-way and that traffic circulation would be maintained. Board members asked whether the parcel had been held for airport needs; staff and the applicant said the Department of Aviation had offered the parcel at auction and it is planned for neighborhood uses in the master plan.
Board members also discussed community open space and housing mix. One member urged larger-lot options (RS 5.2) to provide yards and play areas for families; Celeste and staff said the master plan and auction price point supported RS 3.3 and that the proposed lot sizes match neighboring development. Public works and staff raised drainage and grading constraints tied to existing sewer and channel elevations.
On separate motions the board: approved the zone change (item 4) and the vacate/abandon (item 5) per staff recommendation; denied the waivers of development standards (item 6) and denied the tentative map for 20 lots (item 7), each per staff recommendation. Votes were taken by voice; the board recorded "aye" votes on approvals and voiced consensus on the denials.
The denials leave the applicant to revise designs to address retaining-wall height and other development-standard concerns before resubmittal.
