Council approves additional lots for Golden Meadows

The site of the Golden Meadows project as seen from a hill at the intersection of Wickerd Road and Bradley Road.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Menifee City Council on Wednesday approved a major modification that will add 79 units to a planned housing development in southwest Menifee.

The Golden Meadows project is scheduled to be built in an open field bordered by Garbani Road to the north, Haun Road to the west, Evans Road to the east, and Wickerd Road to the south – the last two being dirt roads. The original plan by Richland Planned Communities, Inc. called for 474 housing units on 205 acres when it was approved by Riverside County. The modification approved by the City this week adds 79 more lots.

Lots along Wickerd Road will be 6,000 square feet, but those inside the complex will be 4,000 square feet with reduced front setbacks to allow for the extra units in phase 4.

Neighboring homeowners have opposed the project since it was first brought to the county before Menifee’s incorporation. Those who addressed the council on Wednesday said they have come to accept the reality of the project and appreciate Richland’s willingness to listen to concerns and make some concessions.

“I do not support the project, but I’m impressed with the way local government worked in this case,” said resident Dave Brown. “The Planning Commission was really responsive and now the council. This is how government is supposed to work. Although I don’t support the plan, I do respect how the process was handled.”

“It’s the wrong product in the wrong place,” resident Ken Stiles said. “I will always disagree, but it is what it is and the system has worked.”

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin said he asked the developer some hard questions before deciding that the project had been fully evaluated and ready for approval.

“I wanted to put you to the test on this and make sure their voices were fully heard,” Karwin told the developers. “I think they were. If you can’t have an open field forever out there, this is the next best thing.”

Ricky Estrada was the only council member who voted against the proposal.

“In so many ways, the residents spoke out against this,” he said. “So many times the council has talked about having local control, and this was our chance to have it. I do not support this.”

Additional benefits promised by Richland include:

-- A 4-foot all-weather pedestrian walkway on Garbani Road, making the route safer for children walking to Menifee Valley Middle School.

-- A higher priority during the permit process for the new traffic signal at Wickerd Road and Haun Road.

-- Extension of an equestrian trail into one of the promised parks.

-- Installation of a water tank to serve the area.

“When I first heard about this, I thought ‘Oh no’ because I knew the project wasn’t popular a long time ago,” said Mayor Bill Zimmerman. “I can sympathize with the neighbors. Our perspective is to come to a resolution the best we can.”