The Santee City Council voted 4–1 on Tuesday to approve a tentative map and development permit for a 42‑unit condominium project at 10939 Summit Avenue, but council members added conditions after neighboring property owners raised concerns about easement rights and road maintenance on the private Summit Avenue.

Christina Rios of the city’s planning division told the council the 4.65‑acre site currently holds a single‑family home and that the Warmington Residential project proposes 21 two‑unit, three‑story buildings with attached garages. Unit sizes would range from 1,745 to 2,085 square feet; the project proposes 21 guest parking spaces where the code requires 11. Rios said the parcel was rezoned from low‑ to medium‑density as part of the city’s housing element rezone to accommodate the region’s housing allocation, and staff prepared a CEQA addendum and exemption under CEQA Guidelines (transcript cites sections 15164 and 15183) because there were no substantial changes from the previously certified EIR.

“The project is anticipated to generate 336 daily trips,” Rios said, adding that Padre Dam confirmed sewer and water availability and that gas service will not be required because the units will use electric appliances.

During public comment, Melanie Osborne, whose family owns the property that includes Summit Avenue, asked the council to pause approval and said Summit Avenue is a private, 2,500‑foot blacktop road with access to about 20 homes and Calvary Chapel. Osborne raised three issues: an alleged 10‑foot encroachment by Warmington onto her family’s land, limits in the existing road and utility easement on making additional improvements, and lack of any agreement assigning future road maintenance or repairs that could be needed because of heavy construction traffic.

Council members expressed concern that approving the map without resolving those issues could lead to litigation. Several members said they supported the project but wanted protections for existing residents. A Warmington representative said the developer had reviewed easement documents and would avoid work in any disputed 10‑foot area and that the company would continue improvements along Summit Avenue; he said Warmington was willing to negotiate a road‑maintenance agreement with the adjacent owners and accept that as a condition of approval.

Council direction and final conditions required by the majority vote stated, in essence: 1) the applicant must present a road‑maintenance agreement acceptable to the city engineer prior to issuance of the grading permit; 2) access and required off‑site improvements must be within the existing easement or a modified easement agreed to by the adjacent property owner; and 3) the applicant may not request the city to use eminent domain to acquire additional rights beyond those they have or negotiate. The council added the condition that any off‑site improvements stay within the applicant’s easement unless the parties agree to a modification.

The motion to approve carried with four yes votes; Councilmember Hall voted no. The record did not identify the motion maker or seconder by name.

The approval allows the developer to proceed with project entitlements subject to the stated conditions; staff said the city will require the maintenance agreement before issuing a grading permit. Council members asked staff to prepare an overview of zoning, entitlements, infrastructure needs and constraints for the wider Summit Avenue area to inform future decisions.

Neighbors and the developer agreed to continue discussions; the council emphasized that conditions are intended to protect long‑standing residents’ rights while allowing implementation of the city’s housing element rezoning.