Temecula Creek Inn General manager Jason Curl stands by the Stonehouse on the Inn's property, which would be preserved if residential development proceeds on the property. (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) Sell
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TEMECULA: Inn owners tee-up housing development plan
Golf course would sacrifice 9 of 27 holes to development
By NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | ∞
Temecula Creek Inn General manager Jason Curl stands by the Stonehouse on the Inn's property, which would be preserved if residential development proceeds on the property. (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) 
Owners of the Temecula Creek Inn plan to install more hotel rooms, like these overlooking the golf course, in addition to nearly 400 homes. (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) 
Temecula Creek Inn general manager Jason Curl stands inside the Stone house, which would be preserved if residential development proceeds on the property. (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) TEMECULA ---- The carpet of manicured green-grass fairways of Temecula's oldest public golf course could one day serve as the lawn for nearly 400 residences.
Plans to build 395 homes, condominiums and town homes as well as increase the number of hotel rooms at the Temecula Creek Inn on the property along Rainbow Canyon Road have been submitted to the city.
Though a year of environmental reviews and public hearings await the proposal, representatives of the resort originally built in 1969 are excited about the future of the landmark property.
"We want to create an environment that draws a cross-section of young singles, retirees, families and vacationers to the Temecula Creek Inn," said General Manager Jason Curl. "We want to make this a place that people not only want to visit, but want to live."
Randi Coopersmith, a representative of the planning and engineering firm in charge of the project, said there are a variety of housing styles proposed for the development, which range from 4,000 square-foot single family homes to 1,400 square-foot town homes.
"We want to do something that is unique to the valley," Coopersmith said. "It's a place where people will come to vacation, to play and to live."
There could also be an opportunity to buy vacation homes that could be managed by the staff of the Temecula Creek Inn to provide time-share options. Plans call for three neighborhoods scattered along fairways of the golf course with the goal of avoiding a tract-home appearance.
"There is no desire to line up two-story homes with garages facing the street," he said. "Our intent is to build something sophisticated."
The development also would capitalize on the shade and aesthetics of mature trees and landscaping, which are hallmarks of the property.
The expansion plans also call for the construction of 99 hotel rooms, a 51-foot stone tower, swimming pools, a spa and fitness center. There would be some renovations to the existing 130-room hotel, such as reconfiguring the parking and entrance areas to give the structures a resort look ---- instead of the current motor lodge appearance and function of the parking lot.
The residential development would require a reduction in the number of holes on the golf course. The Temecula Creek Inn now has a 27-hole golf course open to the public. To accommodate the expansion, nine holes will be eliminated. An 18-hole championship-length course would remain intact after the expansion.
"There is more than enough golf in the Temecula Valley," Coopersmith said.
Just down the road on Pechanga Parkway, an 18-hole golf course is set to open at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in August, joining numerous other courses in the area.
Curl said holes at Temecula Creek would be lost from each of the three nine-hole layouts, but the "best of the best" will be left behind. Last year, approximately 60,000 rounds of golf were played at the Temecula Creek Inn courses, he said.
One area of the 350-acre Temecula Creek Inn property that will be left untouched will be the Stonehouse, constructed more than a century ago by the quarry workers who mined Temecula granite. The rustic structure, located near the eighth tee box, is used for retreats and wedding ceremonies.
"The Stonehouse is sacred," Curl said.
Patrick Richardson, the city's deputy director of planning, said representatives of the Temecula Creek Inn have been working with city administrators since last fall to discuss the expansion, for which a formal planning application was submitted last month.
The property is zoned for parks and recreation and the general plan designates the area as a recreational commercial property. Richardson said the members of the Inn are proposing a specific plan to allow for the incorporation of the residential uses.
He said an environmental analysis will be needed to study the potential effects on traffic, air quality and noise impacts.
"They are probably looking at a 12-to 18-month processing time frame that will include meetings with the community," said Richardson. "They are very early on in the process."
Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.
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Because the... wrote on Jul 1, 2008 9:27 PM:housing market is just JUMPIN...
right off a cliff.
Paul wrote on Jul 1, 2008 11:42 PM:That's what's so great about the United States. These folks have a right to make a business decision that uneducated bloggers would never understand.
Pffft wrote on Jul 1, 2008 11:44 PM:Might as well add these to the foreclosure list now so you'll know who to contact.
Yeah just what we need wrote on Jul 2, 2008 3:26 AM:400 more houses with 4000 more people, and 1200 more cars. Ah, whatever became of the idealic Temecula of the late 80s? Oh yeah, that's right, the shining new city sold its soul to development...I knew there was a reason I left...I just feel fortunate I got out before it became the concrete ghetto it has turned into.
to Yeah wrote on Jul 2, 2008 6:48 AM:Concrete ghetto, that's funny. Where do you live Hawaii? The last time I looked Temecula was a beautiful green well kept nice suburban place to live.
Suzie wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:40 AM:I have lived here now for about 10 years and have seen Temecula expand considerably. Some for the good but it seems like more for the bad. Crime element has certainly increased along with the amount of empty houses on every street. Prime example is the new subdivisions just put in off of Pechanga Pkwy. Yeh, there are some who live there but most of those homes are empty. AND we need someone to build more homes when there are thousands of homes already here standing empty? What is wrong with this picture? For crying out loud what makes these people think that there will be droves of visitors who can AFFORD to come to California and play, let alone live with the economy going down the toilet. Jeez already!
Confused wrote on Jul 2, 2008 9:23 AM:After living and working in Temecula for over 15 years, still can't figure out why Temecula insists on calling itself a tourist destination. What does Temecula have that Riverside, San Bernardino, Rancho Bernardo, Vista, etc doesn't have? Could it be the 400 or so acres of 'wine country'? Old Town with its overpriced shops that you can wander through in less than 1/2 a day? Certainly can't be Pechanga! We have hot, smoggy summer days with Lake Skinner as our only water destination, no meaningful activities for teens and tweens and other than the Saturday soccer, baseball games, nothing for families to do. What a joke!
Jeez Already wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:23 AM:Back in my day, before I moved from Temecula; we rode horses without your new-fangled motorized carriages! We solved our issues with a 6-gun at high noon! Jeez already! We fought the Union Pacific railroad then and we'll fight these new threats to our idealized utopia!
James wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:33 AM:The resort and golf course is locatd in a very nice and scenic part of Temecula, as compared to many of the "empty" cookie cutter boxes scattered across the "concrete" and dirt bowls of Temecula. Who knows, it could be good time to be preparing to build new homes as housing downturns and recessions don't last forever... but most of the previous writers probably bought at the height of the housing bubble.
To Confused wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:11 PM:Temecula "insists on calling itself a tourist destination" because in 2007 over $600 million dollars was spent by tourists visiting the destination, and the destination employees over 6000 individuals in tourism-related jobs. Sounds like a tourist destination to me!
Wine Country wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:51 PM:Isn't Wine Country located outside the city of Temecula?
If so, how can we count the dollars spent there as being spent in Temecula?
WOW wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:03 PM:I'll bet the TVUSD is salivating already thinking about the developer's fees this'll bring in (never mind the "potential" students they can claim to the State to get their hands on that bond money to build more schools)!
City Council to the rescue wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:07 PM:They want to buy up the hills, to protect our open space here (NOT to block the quarry)...why not buy up this "open space?" Oh that's right, more homes in Temecula will increase the tax base (who cares if the traffic over there is already a nightmare).
Rasta Man wrote on Jul 2, 2008 5:51 PM:Will this be built befor the quarry? If so I would add a car wash to the plans, those places are going to get DUSTED.
Just the Facts wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:11 AM:Well, there's quite a bit of misinformation here, but here goes: idealistic 80s - 1)Temecula's land use was legally recorded by the county in the 1970s and investors bought property knowing they could build the number of homes that were legally recorded. We are seeing that EXACT plan coming to fruition today. The city inherited that plan and had no authority to take away the property rights of the investors. The house YOU bought was part of that plan. So if you're unhappy, you're just as guilty of "filling a house and spoiling Temecula" as the next guy. 2) With $600 million in tourist dollars spent in hotels and retail shops in 2007 in Temecula, it is a tourism spot. 3)"Confused" is just unhappy and would probably be "bored" and "critical" anywhere - Temecula has a lot of recreatioinal opportunities including more parks per capita than any city in the state. 4)Homes don't increase the tax base. In fact, it costs more to provide police and fire protection for a home than the home generates in property tax. The city keeps only 19 cents on the dollar in property tax money. It's nothing when compared to the millions generated in sales tax. Temecula is 28th in the state for sales tax generation - most from tourism. So I guess all those people are finding things to do and buy in Temecula after all. 5) As usual, Confused is wrong. Temecula's air quality is the same as Newport Beach (check it on the web). Diamond Valley Lake is the largest man-made body of water west of the Mississippi, and add Skinner and Vail Lake to the list of water destinations. 14,000 kids and their families participate in organized sports in Temecula. Pretty popular.
The Press Enterprise named Temecula the "most liveable city". Confused needs to go away and find that perfect city. It will have no people, but it will still have great places to shop, play, dine, and recreate. NOT! People are the engine that drives the good retail, commercial, and recreational opportunities. "Confused" is a perfect blog name for you!
to Just the Facts wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:29 AM:Beautifully put; I couldn't have said it better myself! To Confused; embrace the city you live, be proud you're an American and live in a wonderful city like Temecula, but if you're not and you're so unhappy, please move.
to to the rescue wrote on Jul 4, 2008 7:09 AM:That isn't "open space", it's private property. If it was yours what would you do with it? oh that's right it not yours!
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