Fountain Valley council denies of housing permit

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- After a spirited public hearing Tuesday night, the

City Council voted 3 to 2 to uphold a Planning Commission decision

denying Orange County Mortgage Inc. a permit to develop 44 extended-stay

units at the Los Caballeros Sports Village and Racquetball Club.

The commission, in its May 10 ruling, said the units were too similar

to traditional condominium units and, as such, did not meet the zoning

requirements. The area is zoned for commercial use.

Los Caballeros Sports Village is a sports facility that includes a

fitness center, 30 tennis courts, three swimming pools, 16 racquetball

courts and 292 units of what was originally intended as temporary

housing. However, some of the units are being used as homes.

Wallace Rodecker of the mortgage company appealed the ruling to the

commission May 30, but the board decided to let the City Council make the

call after a public hearing.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Rodecker reiterated the company’s plans for an

additional 44 units but did not offer further support for the appeal.

About six residents spoke at the hearing, which drew a full house.

The main dispute of the evening arose after John Rydell, a resident of

Plaza Del Lago, adjacent to Los Caballeros, raised concerns about

potential parking problems the planned development would create.

Rydell said parking spaces are sparse, and the development would cause

further congestion.

Rodecker said the parking issue had been taken into consideration.

“Plaza Del Lago will not be affected because tenants would have

assigned spaces, which would be open at all times,” Rodecker said.

Los Caballeros unit owner Michael Ring said the units would provide

affordable housing in Fountain Valley.

“I’m only 23 years old, and I own my own unit because Los Caballeros

is so affordable,” Ring said. “The new units would allow other young

people like me to have a great opportunity to have a property of their

own.”

The council decided the new units would be more like residential

housing than like a hotel, and voted to uphold the appeal. Councilmen

Larry Crandall and Chuck Conlosh voting to overturn.