The Hemet City Council voted to approve a suite of entitlements for a D.R. Horton proposal to amend the Trace Cerritos West specific plan and build 269 single‑family homes on roughly 190.1 acres north of Celeste (formerly Rose) Road near Old Warren Road. Emery Papp, deputy director of community development, told the council the planning commission reviewed the application and recommended approval with findings and an addendum to the project's previously adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration.

Developer representatives outlined the project and internal revisions. “Our proposal includes 269 single family homes with a broader range of lot sizes to appeal to a diverse group of homebuyers,” project manager Parker Choritsch said during his presentation. The plan keeps the overall project boundary unchanged but increases net density on the developable acreage by altering internal planning areas; staff said the net result is approximately 269 lots on about 41.05 net developable acres producing a net density of roughly 6.55 units per acre while retaining about 60 acres of conservation area and roughly 3.5 acres of vernal pools and open space.

Key council questions focused on wildfire response and fuel modification measures, drainage and off‑site traffic improvements. Staff said the fire marshal reviewed the fuel modification and interim fire protection plans and determined access and separation were adequate; the developer will be required to record maintenance obligations and either an HOA or similar maintenance entity will be required to manage drainage basins and other shared infrastructure. The applicant indicated willingness to consider larger tree box sizes and to discuss a possible public art contribution, subject to further negotiation.

Councilmember Peterson moved to adopt resolutions accepting the CEQA addendum, approve tentative tract map 31513, introduce an ordinance to amend the specific plan by title and to introduce an ordinance to amend the development agreement (04‑003); after clarifying modifications, the council approved the motions by roll call.

What was approved: staff recommended and council approved – by roll call – (a) an addendum to the previously adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration, (b) introduction of an ordinance for Specific Plan Amendment No. 4 (Trace/Tracerritos West), (c) approval of Tentative Tract Map 31513, (d) site development review including model home complex locations, and (e) an amended development agreement identifying D.R. Horton as property owner and extending the development agreement term for five more years (extending map life to 2029 in the resolution text).

Next steps: ordinances will return for subsequent readings as required; the development agreement and map will be processed per the normal ministerial and ministerial/recording steps and conditions of approval will be finalized in the administrative record.

Provenance: Topicintro SEG 844; Topfinish SEG 1664.