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Published Friday, May 3, 2002

"Final final comments" from the Rancho Murieta Association about the development agreement are now being addressed, according to Murieta Holdings developer Gerry N. Kamilos. He told the audience at the developers' monthly "town hall" meeting Thursday night that the remaining issues are minor.

Once the long-running negotiation among the developers, the RMA and the Pension Trust Fund of the Operating Engineers is wrapped up, Kamilos said, "It will allow us to talk to the (Community Services District) about the facilities needed for the project."

Murieta Holdings plans to develop about 1,100 units in Murieta North. The CSD has supported the RMA by postponing its own dealings with the developers until the development agreement is completed.

One of the CSD facilities required for the proposed development is a new water treatment plant. Kamilos said because Murieta Holdings reduced the density of development in the North by about 1,000 units, it's possible for the CSD to combine two planned treatment plants -- one to serve new development on the South and the other for new development on the North -- into a single expansion. "We're prepared to sit down with the CSD and provide the funding for that expansion," Kamilos said.

Environmental documents for the two projects the developers submitted to the county for approval should be completed in the next four weeks, Kamilos said. Public hearings for The Retreat projects and the Residences of Murieta Hills would be held in June or July.

Answering a question asked after the meeting officially ended and the cameras were turned off, Kamilos said he expected construction to run concurrently on both projects, starting next spring.

Another untelevised question concerned the commercial acreage behind the Country Store. A supermarket and drug center have been talked about for some of the acreage. Developer Robert J. Cassano, who was not present at the meeting because of a family commitment, said at the February meeting the property was expected to go into escrow in 30 days. "We're working on it," Kamilos said, but it hasn't happened yet.

Residents became curious after observing surveying activity at the site. That activity is related to a general survey of the community being conducted by the developers.

Kamilos reaffirmed the developers' position that traffic impacts caused by development have been accounted for by the county and Caltrans in a master plan. Those entities "will do upgrades (on Highway 16) when it's appropriate," he said.

The videotaped portion of the meeting lasted about five minutes. Four residents attended.

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