Planning commission approves 242‑lot Tentative Tract Map with mitigation, clarifies burrowing owl and water-main conditions

The Victorville Planning Commission voted to approve a tentative tract map (case PLN23-00030) to create a 242-lot single-family subdivision on roughly 70 acres, adopting a mitigated negative declaration and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program that includes measures for biological, cultural/tribal, geology/soils and noise impacts.

Planning staff said the map meets the R-1 single-family zone development standards, with no lot proposed smaller than 7,200 square feet and an overall density of about 3.4 dwelling units per acre. The CEQA findings and mitigation measures (conditions 26–53) address biological resources, including updated measures to meet California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) comments on Western Joshua tree and preconstruction surveys. Staff noted two responsible-agency comment letters—CDFW (Burrowing Owl, Western Joshua tree, nesting birds and preconstruction surveys) and Caltrans (traffic impact analysis); the staff report added condition 93 to acknowledge and allow response to Caltrans’ comments subject to the city traffic engineer’s approval.

The applicant’s representative, Timothy Rufian, requested two minor changes to the conditions of approval: 1) revise condition 32 (mitigation measure BIO-6) to remove language describing “loss of at least 65.55 acres of occupied habitat” so CDFW can determine appropriate acreage for any authorized take; and 2) clarify condition 64a to state that the “new construction of approximately 2.8 miles of 8-inch water main” is “within project boundary” to avoid future misinterpretation. Planning staff told the commission that condition 32’s proposed edit —deleting the specific “65.55 acres” phrasing so the sentence would read that impacts “shall be authorized and fully mitigated as determined by CDFW through a CESA/ITP”—would not change the intent of the mitigation and would not require further CEQA review. Staff also explained the 2.8-mile water-main language reflects technical-study requirements for an off-site main to meet two points of connection; that engineering condition would remain as written.

After public testimony was none, Commissioner Marsh moved to approve the item per staff recommendations, including the updated condition 27 in the late memo and the agreed revision to condition 32; Commissioner Marshall seconded. The roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Commissioner Marsh, Commissioner Marshall and Chair Kurth; Vice Chair Mason and Commissioner Thomas were absent. The motion passed.

Why it matters: The approved tentative map sets zoning and subdivision approvals that, subject to conditions and mitigation, allow future construction of 242 single-family homes. Mitigation measures and agency comments (CDFW and Caltrans) shape preconstruction surveys, habitat protections (including for Burrowing Owl and Western Joshua tree), and infrastructure obligations such as a water main connection described in the engineering conditions.

The applicant remains responsible for compliance with the conditions of approval and for securing any required permits and authorizations from state agencies (CDFW) and the city.