SAN CLEMENTE : Developers Chosen for Housing Units

The City Council this week decided which developers will be allowed to build the 500 housing units that are the maximum permitted each year under city law.

Although the council approved building permits for three developers this year, the projects will be delayed due to a citywide moratorium on new construction imposed last month because of water shortages.

“I feel like I just won a beauty contest,� said Ron Brent of Centex Homes of San Clemente, whose firm won the right to build 350 units. “I’m very concerned about being able to build, but I’m optimistic that a solution will be found.�

Five developers had turned in plans for 949 homes. The other two builders who won approval were UDC Homes of Corona, which had plans approved for 111 homes, and the RWR Development Corp., which intends to build a 24-house tract.

The council voted 4 to 1 to approve the staff-recommended allotments. Councilman Tom Lorch voted against the majority, saying that it made no sense to vote for more construction during a water shortage.

“We’re saying (to developers) that we’re going to give you the allocation but we’re not going to give you a building permit,� he said. “That was not the intent� of the city law restricting development.

Under that 1986 law, the city staff ranked developments by assigning priority to each proposal by means of a point scale. The system has been criticized by developers and is under review by the Planning Department.

The water shortage issue first arose last summer, when the demand for water exceeded the capacity of the single pipeline serving the city. A city water reservoir was drained to less than half its capacity.

The City Council responded by freezing all new construction and passing a tough water conservancy measure that gave the city the right to shut off service to water wasters.

The building freeze is scheduled to expire in April. At that time, the council will review a report from city staff and decide whether to renew the moratorium on construction.