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Chino approves settlement requiring K. Hovnanian to complete ADA and public‑works punch list
Summary
The council unanimously approved a settlement with developer K. Hovnanian that requires completion of outstanding ADA and public‑works improvements for Sonata at The Reserve and payment of court‑awarded attorneys' fees (about $33,597.50); the city will withhold bond release until completion.
The Chino City Council on March 24 approved a settlement agreement with developer K. Hovnanian that requires the company to complete outstanding Americans with Disabilities Act and public‑works improvements at the Sonata at The Reserve development and to pay court‑awarded attorneys' fees.
City Attorney Fred Galante told the council the city successfully defended litigation in which K. Hovnanian had argued it did not need to complete specified ADA work. "The judge awarded the city virtually all the attorney's fees and costs incurred in our defense of the case, totaling $33,597.50," Galante said, and the proposed settlement requires K. Hovnanian to pay those fees and complete a punch list attached to the agreement.
Galante said this development's work dates to 2014 and that, unlike some prior settlements, the present agreement requires the developer to perform remaining construction items at its cost. Public works staff member Jesus Basencia said the punch‑list items must be addressed before the project is brought back to council for formal acceptance and bond release.
Council members pressed staff on timing and enforcement. Galante and Basencia said the city is retaining construction bonds and would pursue breach‑of‑contract remedies if the developer failed to perform; staff agreed to work with the developer to add a firm timeline into the agreement and to keep the council updated.
Councilmember Comstock moved to approve the settlement; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The settlement resolves long‑running ADA compliance issues for the project. Staff will return with a finalized timeline inserted into the agreement and notify the council of progress toward completion.
