News

BY KATRINA VAN DUZEE, GARDEN GROVE JOURNAL

A proposal to build a 53-unit townhouse development in the Century Triangle of Garden Grove won its final approval at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

On a 4-0 vote with Councilman Steve Jones absent for the vote, the commission approved the request from Brandywine Homes to construct the project. The development will occupy the area formed by Century Boulevard, Taft Street and Walnut Street.

The three-acre site is partially vacant and located next to Costco.

Although the council approved the development, some community members expressed concern over an increase in traffic on the surrounding streets, the appearance of the homes and the amount of open green space included in the plan.

“Some of these people will have children, I can guarantee it. Therefore there is no space for them to go out and physically play, making these people house-bound most of the time,” resident Peggy Bergin said. “I do not consider inactive green space, green space.”

The three-story townhouses will range from 1600-2200 square feet and will have two-car garages. A total of 143 parking spaces will be available to residents, which exceeds the code requirements.

Parking is not likely to be a problem, but with an estimated 500 cars making trips in-and-out of the complex’s primary access point, traffic is guaranteed to increase, according to Bergin.

“We are really proud of what is being presented,” Jim Barisic, president of Brandywine Homes said. “We really believe this development, if approved this evening, will be an additional and major contributor to enhancing the downtown city core and perhaps the entire community.”

The development plan does include interior streets, patios attached to the homes, open space areas and an urban trail.

“ I am getting tired of planned unit development’s and brick walls. It’s not very attractive,” Bergin said. “If this is how the buildings will look if fulfilled, they will not age well. They are very time- sensitive to now.”