Council OKs development pact with Lennar Homes

The Shafter City Council Tuesday night approved a revised development agreement with Lennar Homes for the Marcona Preserve development off of Seventh Standard Road. This property would be the site of 395 residential lots, ranging in size from 5,508 square feet to to 23,345 square feet (a large corner lot). The minimum size of a residential unit is 1,400 square feet.

The agreement includes environmental impact fees of up to $15,000. This agreement will eliminate any uncertainty and provide for the orderly development of the property. It also is intended to ensure progressive installation of necessary improvements and provide public services for the development.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, several business owners voiced concerns about limited parking in downtown Shafter. Amanda Kirschenmann, owner of Sun Country Flowers on Central Avenue, said that the parking spaces in front of her store have been occupied every day by the same five cars, forcing her customers to park farther from the store than they should have to. "I have received calls from customers telling me that they were sorry but they didn't stop because there was no place to park by her store."

Another business owner, Giselle Hernandez of The Hub, voiced a similar concern about the lack of parking. "I have customers that cannot walk very far, and they won't stop if they see no available parking near my business."

In a brainstorming session of the business owners, they thought of a possibility of maybe getting the city to assign certain parking spaces right in front of businesses, as designated for that business, or even making the spaces right in front of businesses restricted to 15 or 20 minutes, punishable by citations if not followed.

The council said that they would take these concerns under advisement and discuss the matter.