More housing developments are coming to Aliso Viejo after city council members approved a project featuring dozens of townhomes and began the process to consider another project that would create hundreds of additional homes in town.
City council members approved a project on Argonaut, off Aliso Creek Road, that’s expected to feature 61 townhomes on 2.85 acres of land.
The project, which council members unanimously supported during their meeting on Dec. 3, is also expected to include three units for very-low-income tenants.
In Orange County, a family of four would qualify as very-low-income if they make less than $84,600 a year, according to state income limits.
The Argonaut project is also expected to feature two-car garages for each unit and 28 additional guest parking spaces. The units are slated to be a mix of two-, three- and four-bedrooms in eight separate buildings.
The project’s development agreement also includes a $1 million public impact fee that the developer, Mertiage Homes, will pay to the city.
Council members supported the project that’s been in the works since late 2024.
“I really do appreciate the fact that you guys went the extra mile on the parking and listened to what we thought was a good direction to go,” Councilmember Max Duncan said during Wednesday’s council meeting. “Parking is a huge drama in this town.”
Mayor Tiffany Ackley said she appreciated how Meritage Homes has worked with the city.
“We’ve had a lot of input for Meritage Homes, and you guys have come to us and presented to us and listened to our thoughts and concerns and incorporated all of them into the plans,” Ackley said. “I have been very impressed and refreshed by this entire process with Meritage.”
The project approval comes after another proposal in town from Meritage Homes to construct 72 townhomes on about seven acres of land bound by Liberty and Freedom Lane streets.
City council members reviewed conceptual plans for the townhomes during their meeting on Oct. 15 and provided feedback — that project is still under review and hasn’t been fully approved at this time.
[Read: Aliso Viejo Could See 72 New Townhomes]
According to state housing mandates, Aliso Viejo must plan for 1,195 new housing units by 2029. This number is passed down by the state and includes housing units for different income levels.
City Officials to Consider Another Housing Development With 405 New Homes
During the same meeting on Dec. 3, council members also had a preliminary discussion for another housing development proposed by an applicant known as Lennar.
This other project, which is in the early stages of planning and design, is expected to feature 405 townhomes on 22.5 acres. It’s planned on Polaris Way, off Aliso Viejo Parkway.
The site currently features office buildings that would need to be demolished and replaced with homes. The project currently is slated to include a variety of different home styles, including duplexes, townhomes, back-to-back attached units and rowtown units.
This project is also expected to include two-car garages for each unit, 151 guest spaces and 21 units reserved for very-low-income tenants.
Peter Carlson, who spoke at the meeting representing Lennar, emphasized that they are in the initial stages of planning this project.
“Unlike your other public hearing, which was at the end of the process, we’re very much at the beginning of the process,” he said. “We’re just starting out with design and concept, and we wanted to share that vision with you and obviously get some of your feedback.”
“What we’ve designed is transforming an office campus into what we think is a really vibrant and high-quality neighborhood,” he said.
During the meeting, council members provided some initial feedback and asked questions; some council members emphasized that the project doesn’t seem like it has enough parking.
“The guest parking really doesn’t seem enough,” Councilmember Tim Zandbergen said. “People do have trucks and larger cars. I just really don’t feel that’s enough guest parking, especially with the number of beds.”
“I think you’d do the homeowners a favor by allowing some more parking for if and when they need it — the overflow for the growth of families,” he said.
There was no vote from council members on this item since it was just meant to be an introduction for the council to provide feedback.
“I feel we’ve given a good amount of feedback,” Ackley said. “Hopefully, you guys take what we’ve said and what members of the public have said and hear what we’re saying and incorporate changes as you see fit.”
Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.