Fewer Homes in New East Coyote Hills Plans

A housing development plan for East Coyote Hills now calls for fewer homes.

The City Council this week approved the reduction despite complaints from the local elementary school district, which has been trying to negotiate an agreement requiring the developer to pay it nearly $800,000 in fees.

Braemar Construction Inc. originally was given approval to build 192 homes on the vacant 31-acre East Coyote Hills site in 1994. At that time, the fee to be paid to the Fullerton School District was $433,300.

Later, the developer decided to build only 155 houses and pay the same amount for schools. However, district officials said that local schools have now become overcrowded and the number of new students that the project would generate--about 57--would force the district to provide more classrooms and teachers.

Council members said they favored the developer’s lower density plan and asked the district and Braemar to try to reach a compromise.

Meanwhile, building permits will not be issued to Braemar until it strikes an agreement with the district over the fees.