Riverside County Supervisors Approve The Villages of Lakeview
The County’s most studied planned community gets green light

Riverside, Calif.  – The Villages of Lakeview, a master-planned community, was approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on February 23, 2010, after six years of study and planning that included one of the most thorough environmental impact reports in the history of the County.

Considered a green community for its water and energy-saving design, The Villages of Lakeview will incorporate drought tolerant landscaping, energy efficient buildings, the Lakeview/Nuevo design guidelines and Dark Skies lighting throughout much of the community.  Even its trails, roads, and mix of residential and commercial uses are designed to reduce vehicle trips, create safe routes to schools and encourage residents to walk or bike to their destinations.

“The Villages of Lakeview incorporates everything we have learned as a company and as an industry in designing green, sustainable communities,” said Randall Lewis, executive vice president of Lewis Planned Communities.
The 19,000-page environmental impact report -- funded by Lewis Planned Communities on behalf of the County – examined air, transportation, noise, archeological, biological and other potential impacts of the 2,800-acre community.

After working with and learning from the local community during the six-year outreach effort, The Villages of Lakeview will include many of the much needed new schools, active parks, a community center, library and nearly 1,000 acres of habitat conservation – including a 500-foot wide greenbelt buffer with berms and fencing between it and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

“We conducted dozens of independent studies for The Villages of Lakeview,” said Mr. Lewis. “The project has also been vetted through hundreds of meetings with the County, eight Planning Commission meetings and two hearings before the County Board of Supervisors.”

The community will feature seven distinct villages, built from west to east over a 20+ year timeframe.  When complete, The Villages of Lakeview will generate more than $175 million for local and regional roads and another $100 million for flood control, potable and reclaimed water and sewer improvements.