San Dimas council approves 37‑unit subdivision over one dissent

The San Dimas City Council voted 4‑1 on Oct. 28 to adopt Resolution 2025-55 approving RC Homes’ tentative tract map (TTM 84582) for a 3.24‑acre subdivision that would create 37 detached two‑story single‑family homes, including seven affordable units.

Louis Tirico, the city’s director of community development, told the council the project, filed under SB 330, uses a density bonus to add 17 units above the base zoning and provides five low‑income and two moderate‑income units. Anne Moore, senior planner, said the project proposes 137 parking spaces (74 garage, 44 driveway, 19 guest) despite a reduced parking ratio that would require 93 spaces under density bonus rules.

RC Homes president Matt Livingston addressed the council and said the company sought to work with neighbors and staff on design choices and agreed to several conditions, including decorative block walls in place of vinyl fencing. “We try to work with the city and understand what’s important,” Livingston said.

Several residents and staff raised safety and environmental concerns during the public hearing. Resident Ruth Luban asked whether removing the existing left‑turn opportunity on West Covina Boulevard would exacerbate collisions near Lone Hill, and the project’s traffic consultant, Alex Garber of EPD Solutions, said collision counts at nearby intersections were below common thresholds used in traffic‑safety reviews. Garber said the study found fewer than five accidents at some local intersections over a 12‑year span and that converting the site access to right‑in/right‑out with a raised median would reduce conflicting movements.

The project would remove 143 trees, 40 of them characterized as mature, and proposes replanting 82 new trees and working with staff to replant up to six oak trees where feasible. Moore said staff added conditions to require continued maintenance of replacement trees to provide privacy for neighboring mobile‑home residents.

Council members questioned the project’s historic‑resource analysis for an on‑site Queen Anne house and asked about construction impacts, pest control measures and trash staging. Staff said the property is on a local historic survey but that prior alterations removed the house’s historic significance for state or federal protection; a condition requires pest control prior to grading to reduce vermin displacement.

The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-55 was made and seconded; the clerk announced the motion carried with a 4‑1 vote, Councilman Vienna opposed.

What happens next: the approval includes several conditions, an affordable‑housing covenant and a density bonus agreement to be executed during the entitlements process. Building permits will not be issued until final map recordation, though the city allowed grading and demolition permits prior to recordation under a partial concession.

Key clarifying details: site ≈3.24 acres; 37 units total; 7 restricted units (5 low, 2 moderate); 143 trees to be removed (40 mature); 82 new trees proposed; proposed parking 137 spaces; CEQA: staff determined the project qualifies for a CEQA infill exemption; project notices mailed to owners within 300 feet.

The council’s approval includes the full set of conditions in the staff report and directs staff to finalize the affordable‑housing covenant and density bonus agreement for recordation.