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Question of the week: What's happening with the proposed apa
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Posted by lward Mon Dec 6, 2004 08:40:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments I've heard a lot about the units proposed for Rosedale Highway and Jewetta, but what about the units that may go in on Rosedale Highway and Jenkins?
Resident opposed to project

A development similar to the 150-unit apartment complex proposed by West Star Construction for the corner of Rosedale Highway and Jewetta Avenue is being proposed at the corner of Rosedale Highway and Jenkins Road.

The property owner hired San Joaquin Engineering, and the company is now proposing two changes to allow for development of a 38.2-acre property: that the land now in Kern County be annexed to the city, and that part of the property designation (20 acres) be changed from urban estate residential to high-medium density, and the other part (18.2 acres) be changed from agricultural to light industrial.

According to Martin Ortiz with the city planning department, San Joaquin wants the property, which is now adjacent to the city, annexed to the city in order to take advantage of services such as police and the city sewer system.

A high-density designation on the 20-acre property would mean greater than seven and less than 17 units per acre.

"So San Joaquin could build a minimum of 145 units and a maximum of 348 units," said Ortiz.
Carla Roomsburg, who lives in Rancho Palm Estates, recently received a letter from the planning department informing her of the proposed amendment to the general plan and indicating she had 20 days to mount a response.

Roomsburg and her husband wrote a letter and collected about 100 signatures in opposition to the proposal.

"This is a very quiet neighborhood, and kids play in the streets," said Roomsburg, who's afraid additional traffic will create noise and cause problems on Phairfield Street, a dirt road that cars are starting to use as a through road.

"They're already starting to speed," said Roomsburg, who's also worried about school overcrowding and lack of privacy. "Most homes in this area are in the $450,000 to $650,000 range. And two-story structures mean people will be looking right into our backyards.

If the proposal does go through, Roomsburg is ready with suggestions such as security walls to improve the apartment project.

"Everyone has to live somewhere. I understand and I agree with that," said nearby neighbor Howard Butler, who, nonetheless, isn't happy about the situation.

"I moved from my former neighborhood because apartments went in and I had to deal with people jumping fences and scaling rocks," said Butler, who noted that 80 units are already going in one corner near his home. "It's the same situation all over again."

City staff have given a presentation to the planning commission and he public hearing will be held Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Ave. Ortiz said a final decision would likely be made in February.

For more information call the city planning department at 326-3733, contact San Joaquin project manager Bret Dawson at 336-0977 or visit www.bakersfieldcity.us.

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