Proponents of a Walnut Senior Condo and Retail Project Get More Time

Proponents of a proposed mixed-use project on Francesca Drive that would include condos for seniors and retail will get more time to complete plan check and secure building permits.

Brion Costa, representing the property owner, asked the Walnut Planning Commission for a 180-day extension to finish plan check and get the necessary building permits.

The commission agreed, voting 4-0 to grant the extension.  Commission Chairman Tom Sykes was absent.

The project encompasses two non-contiguous properties located at 780 and 808 Francesca Drive. The original plan called for 86 condos for seniors but has been scaled back to 71, Costa said.

The plans also include a semi-subterranean parking lot and 3,810 square feet of retail space.

Costa has been before the commission several times seeking extensions.

Most recently, the Planning Commission granted two time extension requests on June 6, 2012 and May 1.

The second extension expired Oct. 10.

On Oct. 3, project Costa filed a request for a 180-day time extension request to complete the plan check review process and obtain building permits.

Even though the extension is for six months, Costa said that he anticipates the applicant will be ready sooner.  The goal is to come back in December for the approval of the tract maps, he said.

The last delay was to make sure that the retaining wall was working well, he said.

"That wall is now done and has been signed off on by the city," he said.

Costa said the mixed-use project has been "complicated" but the applicant is working hard to push forward.