Density becomes an issue for proposed apartments

By Karen Brainard

A developer proposing multi-family housing on 16th Street was told he would have to lower density or adjust his target audience when he presented preliminary plans to the Ramona Design Review Board.

The approximately 2.5-acre parcel is just southeast of Main Street. As proposed, the apartment complex would have 60 units.

Casey Malone of Lansing Companies in San Diego said the county’s general plan allows 24 units to an acre at that site, but design review board member Chris Anderson informed him that the Ramona Community Plan overrides the general plan and only allows 7.3 units per acre in the town center. To have a higher density, the apartment complex would have to be affordable housing or senior housing, board members said.

Malone said he would meet with the county and review his options.

Board members liked the preliminary design and layout as presented by Malone’s architect, Phillip Pekarek of Pekarek Crandell Inc. The architect called the design an “old California courtyard approach.”

Design review member Rob Lewallen said he was impressed with the look and it was nicer than most apartment plans he had seen recently, even with the higher density.

“There’s some nice ideas here,” he said.

Malone is scheduled to give an informational presentation to the Ramona Community Planning Group at its Dec. 5 meeting at 7 p.m. in the Ramona Library Community Room, 1275 Main St.

Also at the design review board meeting, members approved a Western-style facade for a building at 1023 B St., and landscaping at the site. Alex Zier said the building will offer space for four sole proprietor-type businesses and a storage unit.