Villa Park Ca Development And Redevelopment

An Orange developer has received city approval to build 16 luxury houses on Villa Park's largest piece of undeveloped residential property. The City Council this week voted 4 to 1 to allow construction of the homes, priced at about $1 million each, on the 10-acre hilltop parcel once owned by singer Jose Feliciano. Councilwoman Patricia L.

A $2.7-million citywide spending plan for next year that includes major road projects and modest pay raises for city employees will be considered today by the City Council. The proposed budget for 1998-99 includes $1.8 million for operations. City Manager Fred Maley said the proposal does not include increases in taxes, fees or service charges. Services will continue at present levels.

Orange County's smallest city has big plans for the new year: more land and a larger Civic Building. The city expects the county Local Area Formation Commission in February to approve a proposed annexation of about five acres. That uninhabited land is now in neighboring Orange, which has already agreed to give up the territory. The two cities decided to redraw their boundaries because of a widening and straightening of two streets that form a common municipal border.

Bids for expansion of the Civic Center are to be presented to the City Council by late December, officials said this week. "We're hoping to start construction in January," City Manager Fred Maley said. "Completion could be in about 60 days." Plans call for expanding City Hall by about 1,500 square feet. The council is also considering a 360-square-foot addition to the city's branch library, which adjoins City Hall in the Civic Center complex. At its Oct.

Architectural Team Three has been chosen to design an addition to the Civic Building. The City Council this week awarded the contract to the Irvine firm after City Manager Fred Maley recommended it as the city staff's top choice. Four firms submitted proposals, Maley said, with Architectural Team Three's $10,250 bid being the lowest. In its fiscal 1996-97 budget, the City Council authorized $125,000 to build a 1,000-square-foot addition to the Civic Building.

The city's budget for the coming fiscal year includes funds for two major projects: buying rights-of-way for the long-planned widening of Loma Street and adding on to the Civic Building. The City Council has reviewed the budget and has set a public hearing and vote on the proposal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. City Manager Fred Maley said the fiscal plan designates $100,000 for the Loma Street project and $125,000 for the Civic Building at 17855 Santiago Blvd.

Completion of storm-drain improvements is among projects that the city government will tackle in 1996, City Manager Fred Maley said. Contracting was begun last fall for drainage-related development in the northeast part of the city. That area suffered flood damage during torrential rainstorms a year ago. "These are storm-drain improvements for the gully that's behind Valley Drive," Maley said.