Imagine a brand new housing community in which every homeowner has a main house and an attached one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit — complete with a living room, kitchen and separate entrance — that could be rented out or used for family members like elderly parents.
That is what is proposed for Murrieta's west side.
During Tuesday night's Murrieta City Council meeting, council members were updated about the proposed “Ivy House” development on 22 acres that would feature 62 single-family homes each with its own "accessory dwelling unit" or "granny flat." The project location is east of Murrieta Creek, west of New Clay Avenue, and south of B Street, near Old Town Murrieta.
For some, the project is a progressive plan amid California's housing crisis, but for others the development would negatively impact the west side's rural character.
The proposed project features 62 lots ranging from 5,200 square feet to 9,530 square feet. Each lot includes a main house (one or two stories) and a 750-square-foot ADU with a separate entrance and yard. Nearly all of the ADUs would have a one-car garage. The main house would range in size from approximately 1,500 to 2,400 square feet and would feature two to four bedrooms, a porch, a yard and a two-car garage.
On June 14, the Murrieta Planning Commission recommended approval of the project's early stages, but with conditions, including added outdoor lighting for safety — something some west-side neighbors say they can do without.
Murrieta Creek runs through the city's west side. During strong rainstorms, the area is prone to flooding though federal dollars have been invested to protect properties in the area. The Ivy House project is planned to be built on an elevated pad with more drainage infrastructure than currently exists in the area.
A public hearing on Ivy House was held during Tuesday night's City Council meeting, but the hearing was extended to Oct. 17 to allow more public comment on the project. The extension was made with a 4-0 council vote; Mayor Pro Tem Lori Stone recused herself from Tuesday's hearing because she said she owns an investment property within 500 feet of the proposed project.
If you are interested in learning more about the proposed project or want to weigh in, the 6 p.m. Oct. 17 City Council meeting takes place at City Hall, 1 Town Square.
When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you... and don't forget to tell all your friends!
 |  |  |
