Paloma Square (Dove Canyon Plaza) Proposed Project

RSM 19-010 Paloma Square – An Application to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita for Zone Change, General Plan Amendment, Site Development Permit, and Tentative Tract Map - INACTIVE CASE - FILE CLOSED JUNE 14, 2021

The owners of Dove Canyon Plaza with their consultant, William Lyon Homes, submitted a proposal to the City for a change in use from commercial to residential on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. 

The purpose of this webpage is to allow for convenient public access to the application materials and for City staff to provide regular updates on the status of the application review.  The City is committed to conducting a very open and thorough review with public notification and input at various stages of the process.  

June 14, 2021 update:  The project file was closed due to inactivity.  Click here for a copy of the closure letter.

December 18, 2019 update:  Staff has issued a letter in response to the applicant’s November 14, 2019 submittal.  The application remains incomplete as all of the information necessary to evaluate the project was not present in the latest submittal. The letter to the applicant shows which items listed in the August 21, 2019, have been provided, and which remain outstanding. There is no required timeline during which the applicant is required to provide the information; however, we have requested a resubmittal within 30 days.  This webpage will be updated when a submittal is received.

November 19, 2019:  A revised application package was submitted by the applicant on Monday, November 18, 2019.  The City has 30 days to review the submitted information and determine whether or not the application may be deemed complete. Any application submitted to the Planning Department is a public document and subject to review upon request.  Due to the high level of interest in the potential future redevelopment of Dove Canyon Plaza, and to ensure a completely transparent process, the City will post all submittals and related correspondence on this webpage.  The materials submitted on November 19^th are provided below.  Hard copies of the records may be reviewed by appointment at City Hall.  Please call (949) 638-1800 x6701 for an appointment.

October 21, 2019:  At the Trabuco Canyon Water District (TCWD) October 16, 2019 Regular Board Meeting, the TCWD Board of Directors considered a letter from Hunsaker & Associates, the representative engineering firm for William Lyon Homes, which requested the preparation of a Sub-Area Master Plan (SAMP) for the proposed Paloma Square Development which included a Conceptual Site Plan for 120 homes dated September 17, 2019.  No new submittals, including the conceptual site plan provided to TCWD, have been submitted to the City at this time. We will update this page when a submittal is received.

October 3, 2019:  No new information or submittals have been received from the applicant at this time.  The City requested, but cannot require, that the applicant resubmit all information listed in the August 21^st letter within 30 days.  There is no statutory requirement limiting the time for the applicant to resubmit.  The applicant recently indicated that the preparation of the resubmittal will take additional time and they may resubmit in late October or early November.

August 21, 2019: Staff has issued a letter to the applicant deeming the application incomplete. This means that all of the information necessary to evaluate the project was not present in the initial submittal. The letter to the applicant provides detailed list of information necessary for the City to continue processing the application. There is no required timeline during which the applicant is required to provide the information, however, the City has requested a resubmittal within 30 days. This weppage will be updated when a submittal is received.

July 24, 2019:  An initial submittal requesting a change in use from commercial to residential was received on 07/24/2019 from Raintree Investments/William Lyon Homes.  Any application submitted to the Planning Department is a public document and subject to review upon request.  Due to the high level of interest in the potential future redevelopment of Dove Canyon Plaza, and to ensure a completely transparent process, the City will post all submittals and related correspondence on this webpage.  Hard copies of the records may be reviewed by appointment at City Hall.  Please contact (949) 635-1800 x6701 for an appointment to review the hard copy file.           

Process:  Applicants for any proposed project must submit a Development Case Application and provide all of the required information, exhibits, and deposits to initiate the City’s review.  Pursuant to State law, City staff has 30 days to review the application and determine whether all of the required information has been provided.  If the City determines that all required information is not present, a letter is sent to the applicant listing the information necessary to complete the application.  When the applicant responds to the letter with a re-submittal, the City has another 30 days to review the application and determine whether all of the required information has been provided.  This cycle is repeated until a complete application is received. The environmental review process and staff analysis of the project does not commence until the application is deemed complete.

Zoning Change Process Flowchart (PDF) 

Development Case Application (PDF)

Schedule Milestones:

July 24, 2019 – Application Submitted

August 21, 2019 – Completeness Determination Letter issued by staff to Applicant

November 18, 2019 - Revised Application Submitted

December 17, 2019 - Completeness Determination Letter issued by staff to Applicant.

June 14, 2021 - File closed due to inactivity pursuant to Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code Section 9.08.240