Vista planners unanimously back 63‑unit Hacienda Drive townhome project despite parking and safety concerns

The City of Vista Planning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 17 to recommend approval of a 63‑unit townhouse development at 1160 Hacienda Drive after hearing staff and developer presentations and public comment focused on parking and traffic safety.

Planner Chris presented the project (planning case P240141) as a tentative subdivision map, site development plan and condominium housing permit for seven buildings on a 4.6‑acre parcel south of State Route 78, with roughly 4 acres of buildable area after excluding riparian/open space adjacent to Buena Vista Creek. The proposal calls for one 12‑unit building, one 10‑unit building, one 9‑unit building and four 8‑unit buildings; unit sizes would range about 1,323–1,731 square feet and the unit mix is six 2‑bedroom, 32 3‑bedroom and 25 4‑bedroom homes. Staff said the project density—15.36 units per acre—falls within the site’s high‑density general plan designation.

Chris said the application was submitted under Senate Bill 330 (the Housing Crisis Act) and the state density bonus law, which limit local discretionary review and allow concessions and…