Planning commission defers recommendation on 76.55‑acre Rock Springs mixed‑use rezoning amid engineering, floodplain and design questions

The La Verne Planning Commission deferred action March 25 on a rezoning request from Equitable Property Company, LLC for 76.55 acres west of Walden (Waldron) Road and south of Blair Road known in the submittal as the Rock Springs mixed‑use development. Commission members said several engineering, drainage and design items must be resolved before the commission will forward a recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The concept plan presented would rezone the parcels to PDR with an R‑3 base (high‑density residential) and proposes a mix of housing and commercial uses. The developer materials described roughly 600+ dwelling units overall (the presentation included an approximate total of “614 dwelling units” and also showed parcel subtotals of 336 units on the north parcel and 242 units on the south parcel), single‑family lots in the northwest corner, and about 208,000 square feet of commercial, retail and office space overall. The design book reserves roughly 2 acres for a future fire station and shows amenities including a clubhouse, pool, walking trail and playground. The presentation estimated total development investment at about $244,000,000.

Why it matters: the rezoning would change low‑density housing land to a planned density residential district on a large tract adjacent to existing subdivisions and Rock Springs Elementary School, affecting traffic, stormwater infrastructure and neighborhood buffers.

Key staff concerns and outstanding items

- Stormwater and floodplain work: city engineering and the applicant disagreed on…