State-Mandated Housing for Chino Hills and Carbon Canyon, Version 2.0

A third public housing workshop was held last Tuesday by the Chino Hills Planning Commission, the main result of which was that 30 identified sites for the over 3,700 housing units the state is mandating be built in the city have been whittled down to a baker's dozen.

Of these 13, however, two are in the canyon and, even though Marianne Napoles of the Chino Valey Champion reported that the others were struck off the list for several reasons, including "without proper access," the canyon properties, like any other proposed housing projects within it, are accessed by a two-lane state highway that already ranks D or F, the lowest possible ratings, for traffic congestion and which cannot be widened because of the physical constraints of the canyon.

The two parcels include 10 acres of the Western Hills Golf Course, the owners of which have been working with major developer Randall Lewis on a housing plan, and the Leonard Grenier property, comprised of stables and structures (many dating back to the Workmen's Circle's Camp Kinder Ring, which was there from 1928 to 1958) on 16.5 acres on Canyon Hills Road just north of Carbon Canyon Road.

Commissioner Patrick Hamamoto rightly asked if the state was taking future water supply into consideration when imposing these mandates and was told by Community Development Director Joann Lombardo that this was not the case.  Presumably, this is true for other critical elements of infrastructure (roads, schools, sewers, etc.)  And, again, the traffic impacts would be very significant.

Napoles wrote that projected numbers of units for the 13 properties are expected to be announced at the next workshop, which is to be held virtually on the 16th at 7 p.m.  More information is available on the city's housing element webpage.