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Interim director details $60 million in recent permits, major housing and hotel projects moving forward
Summary
Interim Community Development Director Robert Flores told the Wildomar City Council the department processed hundreds of permits this quarter—representing about $60 million in private investment—and outlined several approved and underway projects including a commercial Cherry Outpost, transitional housing, a Marriott hotel grading operation, and multiple residential phases.
Interim Community Development Director Robert Flores briefed the Wildomar City Council on the department’s staffing, permitting volume and active development work at the council’s October meeting.
Flores said the department—composed of building and safety, planning, and code enforcement/emergency management divisions—has 11 full‑time staff, one intern and contract support through Riverside County Fire. He reported the building division took in 238 permits, issued 229 and finalized 259 permits in the most recent quarter, which Flores estimated represents roughly $60 million in total private investment over that period.
On planning activity, Flores said the city received 13 entitlement applications during the quarter, approved four projects and issued several over‑the‑counter approvals such as landscape and special‑event permits. He noted the planning commission and council held study sessions on the “Bluffs” project and that the council recently adopted ordinances updating rules for cannabis operations and for gas stations, car washes and storage facilities. Flores also said the department added an assistant planner, Matt Kramer, and a planning intern, Joel Rosales.
On code enforcement and emergency management, Flores reported 114 new code cases opened, 34 citations issued, and 413 inspections or reinspections performed, with 72 cases closed or brought into compliance. He said the city incorporated the local hazard mitigation plan into its safety element, securing state certification and improving eligibility for grants, and that city teams participated in a recent emergency preparedness fair and will hold training and an earthquake drill tied to the statewide Great ShakeOut on Oct. 16, 2025.
Flores then outlined several development projects. He said the planning commission approved the Cherry Outpost commercial development—a retail center with a gas station, car wash and a hotel—and that an eight‑building, 84‑bed transitional housing project (Project Touch) had been approved administratively and was entering post‑entitlement work such as grading and building permits. Residential projects reported as active include Lennar’s Horizon Place (final building recently received final inspection), D.R. Horton phases nearing completion, an affordable Cottages/Bell Ranch project now under grading, and the Marriott hotel site that is currently being graded with developers moving toward building permits. Tres Logos phases one and two are occupied and the developer plans phase three construction soon.
Flores closed by offering to answer council questions about schedules and coordination; council members asked about tour arrangements and noted excitement about the hotel and other developments. The council did not take additional action beyond accepting the report.
