Perris delays Acacia Pointe townhome approval after neighbors report dust, vibration and retaining‑wall damage

The Perris City Council on Sept. 30 voted 5‑0 to continue consideration of the Acacia Pointe townhome project after residents raised concerns about construction dust, vibrations and apparent damage to retaining walls and other property.

D.R. Horton vice president Dan Boyd told the council the firm has worked with staff and residents, has reconfigured the project’s architecture and landscaping and had committed to removing an on‑site stockpile. Boyd said recent rain slowed remedial grading but that the developer expects the work to be completed in mid‑October and then to proceed with development plans.

Several neighbors who live along Shady Oaks Drive testified during public comment that piled material and heavy machinery have caused ongoing dust, weeks of daily vibration and visible cracks in retaining walls and fences. One resident, Sonia, said she has experienced “4 to 5 earthquake[s] nonstop” during daytime grading and expressed concern that her home’s foundation and a retaining wall have been damaged. Another resident reported rising rodent activity and repeated costs for pool cleanup tied to the exposed soil.

Senior planner Nathan Perez and the applicant said the developer had lowered the stockpile from earlier heights and that staff has been working with the applicant on dust control. Applicant Boyd said the project was on the “tail end” of remedial grading and that the remaining material will be exported off site; he estimated the work should be resolved by mid‑October.

The proposed Acacia Pointe plan would replace a long‑dormant recorded tract and introduce a gated, 141‑unit for‑sale townhome community (three‑ to four‑bedroom units, about 1,600–1,652 square feet) with a 1,500‑square‑foot clubhouse, pool, tot lot and dog park. The developer added landscaping buffers and other design changes after planning‑commission and community feedback; staff said the project meets MFR‑14 standards and parking requirements.

Councilwoman Nava said she wanted more time to ensure residents’ reports are fully documented and addressed before the council acts. Nava moved to continue the item so staff and the applicant could complete a property‑by‑property assessment of potential damage, coordinate with the neighbors on mitigation and return with responses; Councilman Malcolm Corona seconded the motion. The council approved the continuance 5‑0.

Staff and the developer acknowledged the outstanding neighborhood concerns and said they would coordinate on follow‑up: Boyd said the developer has produced before‑and‑after photos for some properties and that engineers would work with the city to assess any claims. Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included a developer statement that about 6,500 cubic yards of stockpiled material remain to be exported and that extreme weather delayed earlier removal plans. The council asked staff to add a condition or assessment step to document pre‑existing conditions and any construction‑related damage for affected homes.

The continuance postpones the ordinance introduction and final entitlements to a future meeting, giving staff and the applicant time to follow up with neighbors and with code enforcement on dust controls, grading schedules and a formal pre/post construction assessment.