New housing community moves forward





Construction of a 48- acre residential community off the 101 Freeway near Ponderosa and Earl Joseph drives may begin once the Springville interchange— freeway access ramps between Las Posas Road and Central Avenue—is complete in spring 2012.

The Camarillo Planning Commission approved the residential project in a regular meeting Dec. 6. The development is slated for a public hearing with the City Council on Jan. 11 before the developer, Encino-based Laro Properties, is given the go-ahead to break ground.

The residential complex is part of the Springville Specific Plan, in the making since the mid-1990s, which includes the interchange, houses on the north side of the 101 Freeway, and retail and commercial centers on the south side of the freeway. Laro Properties is one of the developers financing the interchange.

The neighborhood would feature 216 housing units, a 5-acre neighborhood park, a 2- acre site for affordable housing and a 5-acre lot for a future townhouse project. Twenty percent of the total units will be classified as affordable housing.

Bob Burrow, city director of community development, said the design would “fit in well with the existing area of the community” because it promotes a pedestrianfriendly atmosphere. The Springville Promenade is a road for cars and pedestrians that connects the residential neighborhood to the future commercial development.

“It’s primarily still singlefamily detached homes, but with the park and the Springville Promenade the intent is to have a neighborhood with character but that’s still compact and walkable, Burrow said.

The concept of a compact yet architecturally appealing design for residential communities is a trend on the rise, said Aleks Baharlo, project manager and Laro Property’s executive vice president of the residential division.

Baharlo said homeowners want smaller houses because they’re less expensive and use less energy. The homes in the complex off the 101 Freeway range from 2,419 to 7,871 square feet in size. The neighborhood’s design has 84 single-family homes over 11 acres, 57 small-lot single-family homes over 9 acres and 75 rowhouse style units on 12 acres.

Other housing trends incorporated in the complex are an open plan concept and some kind of outdoor living space such as a courtyard or backyard.

The neighborhood will be pedestrian-friendly with greenbelts, landscaping and a 5-acre public park with picnic tables, playgrounds and a multiuse field.

“It’s a lifestyle trend,” Baharlo said. “We’re in a car a lot, and when you get home at night you don’t always want to get back into the car to go somewhere. You can walk around this neighborhood and engage in activities without having to get in the car. We think it makes for a healthier urban design.”