-July 8,2020-
Despite strong opposition from the Navy, the Lemoore City Council voted to approve a 362 home subdivision on the east side of West Hills College a their meeting July 7. The vote was 3 to 1 with Mayor Eddie Neal voting no.
The project had appeared dead based on inaction at a recant council meeting when they decided not to vote on a second reading approval for the proposed EIR for the big Lennar project.
Urging the the city not move forward were officials from NAS Lemoore concerned the housing development would encroach on the flight path for the air base.The noise issue was a driven home at that meeting,June 16, with the buzz of navy jets during much of the meeting.
In the meantime City Manager Nate Olson and others have been urging the council to reconsider their position and let the project move forward.
A letter from the West Hills College president Kristin Clark urged the city to follow their own general plan that includes housing in this area. “My hope is that the Council will stick with its 2030 General Plan which specifically designates residential housing around the College. Additional rooftops bring additional revenue to the City, and developing west of the 41 establishes a more noticeable footprint from both the 41 and 198, giving more prominence to the City of Lemoore.”
Earlier City manager Olson said the city may face another issue if the project does not move ahead. “ If we don’t follow our own general plan we may be liable for costs and damages” from a developer who has worked on this for years based on the Lemoore General Plan.
Earlier in the evening the council voted 3-1 to place a one percent sales and use tax on the November ballot.