Murrieta planning commission approves tentative tract map for 107-unit Garrison Ranch, clarifies 6-foot wall requirement

The Murrieta City Planning Commission on Feb. 26 approved a tentative tract map (Tract Map 39271) to subdivide about 15.85 acres into 107 condominium (airspace) units for the Garrison Ranch residential project, adopting the staff-recommended conditions and clarifying that a 6-foot block wall will be provided along Brett Lane as previously intended.

The project site has been designated single-family residential and zoned SF-2 since 2006. Aaron Rintamaki, planning staff, told the commission the map aligns with approvals from Dec. 13, 2023: the unit count, lot layout, on-site park, drainage basin, and perimeter wall remain unchanged. Rintamaki said the conversion to a tract map will create airspace lots so homes can be sold individually, “so that they can sell them as individual homes to potential home buyers,” and noted the project is subject to state streamlining law SB 330; this is the fourth of five allowable hearings under that statute.

Neighbors who live on private Brett Lane and nearby Washington Avenue raised concerns during public testimony about the block wall location and height, potential runoff and erosion, sight lines on Washington Avenue and increased traffic. Wendy Sarges, a Brett Lane resident, said, “We own this land and have paid taxes on it,” and requested the wall be set back and measured from Brett Lane elevation to reduce erosion and visibility impacts. Mike Rennie, a Washington Avenue resident, told commissioners the Washington approach is hazardous and urged measures to limit street parking.

Developer Eric Aguchi and builder Justin Brewer said the product was intended for sale, not long-term rental, and reiterated commitments to preserve the historic house on Parcel 1 and mature oaks. Aguchi told the commission, “Nothing’s changed since 2023. We are in fact…we had never intended this to be for rent product. It was always intended to be for sale product.” He and staff also confirmed the project will provide an engineered block wall and that construction access will avoid using Brett Lane.

Staff and the applicant explained that the engineering team revised some pad elevations during detailed grading to make drainage work but that two homes adjacent to Brett Lane had no change in pad elevation; staff said final street improvement plans and drainage details will be reviewed by city engineering before building permits are issued. A traffic impact analysis prepared in 2023 found local intersections and project driveways would operate at acceptable levels; staff said stop controls are shown at the project approaches to Adams and Washington avenues and Adams will be included on the next speed-study update list.

After discussion, staff clarified that the previously approved plans called for a six-foot block wall along Brett Lane but that the tentative tract map lacked clear section details. The commission’s motion to approve included an explicit condition clarifying a six-foot block wall from the Brett Lane perspective, and the resolution approving the tentative tract map was adopted (motion carried unanimously, 3-0).

Next steps: the conditions of approval in Exhibit A will be enforced during final engineering, permitting, and subdivision recordation; staff will continue to work with the applicant and neighbors on grading, drainage, maintenance access for the block wall and other conditions noted in the approval.