After initially declining to support townhome project, Planning Commission to reconsider

Photo by Eric Pierce

DOWNEY — A 33-condominium project on the city’s western limits that failed to get Planning Commission support will get one more chance for Planning Commission approval.

According to city officials, state law requires that the Planning Commission take action before the project would appear before the City Council for final approval. However, the controversial project - slated to be erected at 7360 Foster Bridge Rd., the site of a currently vacating church – split four of the city’s five planning commissioners at their meeting last week 2-2, resulting in no action. As such, developer Olson Homes has requested that the project be brought back for reconsideration.

The Planning Commission will discuss the project again at their May 1 meeting next week, however this time it will be with a full dais.

Planning Commissioner Mario Guerra, who serves as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, was out of state at Fort Campbell in Kentucky on April 17 and did not participate in the decision. Guerra says that he had previously made everyone involved aware (including city staff and the other members of the planning commission) that he would not be attending the meeting, prior to his knowledge that the item would be on the agenda.