Pulte begins preparations for new homes in Mosaic tract

Pulte Homes construction signs stand in front of dirt being moved around south of Craig Avenue at Palomar Road. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

An open field that has been scheduled for development for years is finally seeing some signs of action on the east side of Menifee.

Pulte Homes has begun grading and utility work at what is known as the Mosaic Project -- a parcel that is south of Craig Avenue and west of Palomar Road. Pulte Homes purchased that parcel and an adjacent parcel from two real estate investment companies -- Watt Communities and McKinley Partners.

Watt and McKinley were two of the four companies involved in the Mosaic Project. DR Horton and Beazer Homes previously completed Phases 1 and 2 of the project, building 131 of the 258 homes planned for the project, according to city records. But the bankruptcy of Granite Homes and uncertainty of the improvements required of new developers delayed further construction the last few years.

A vote by the Menifee City Council in August approved a development agreement that allowed Watt and McKinley to move forward with finding a home builder. According to Cheryl Kitzerow, community development director for the City, Pulte has submitted architectural plans for approximately 30 homes in this phase as well as plans for perimeter street improvements and landscaping.

The latter should be good news for residents in the first two phases. When the future of the Mosaic Project was discussed during the Aug. 2 City Council meeting, some residents in homes along or near Palomar Road complained about landscape maintenance taxes they have been paying for improvements that were never made.

Complicating the issue of taxes and perimeter improvements at the project is the fact the City is not responsible for maintenance in that neighborhood. That is the responsibility of Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District, which still has control of landscaping over most areas of Menifee east of the 215 Freeway.

Kitzerow said plans submitted by Pulte Homes are still being evaluated by city staff.

Red star indicates the area where Pulte Homes is beginning grading and utility work. Map courtesy of Google Street Maps