Q & A

HOMES

How soon will I be able to buy a house in the new community?
After approvals are granted, the first homes in the new community could be available about 18 months later. You can help us encourage public officials to approve the plan by sending an electronic letter of support to local decision-makers.

What types of homes will be offered?
The new homes will offer a broad range of sizes, styles and prices, with alternatives ideal for every stage of life. Executives might select lots offering dramatic views of Catalina Island and the San Gabriel Mountains. Recent college grads could stay near mom and dad and buy their first townhome. In addition, it is anticipated the plan will include senior and workforce housing.

How much will the homes cost?
Spectacular estates to single-family homes to townhomes are included in the plan, creating a wide selection of homes and price points for buyers. Prices will be set by homebuilders and will reflect market conditions at the time homes are ready for sale.

Are more homes needed in the region?
Yes. Approximately 1 million jobs are located within a ten mile radius surrounding the proposed community and there are not enough homes for the workers. The Aera Master Planned Community will help ease this imbalance and create a better balance of jobs and homes which can help shorten commute times and relieve traffic congestion.

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WILDLIFE AND HABITAT

Can Aera’s plan improve the quality of wildlife habitat on the property?
Yes. The degraded state of the existing habitat is evidenced by the fact that relatively few animals live there. For example, after many years of biological surveys only three or four pairs of California gnatcatchers have been found to be nesting on the entire 2,935 acres. Aera’s habitat restoration plan includes removal of non-native species, replanting oak and walnut woodlands, restoring riparian habitat and creating and improving coastal sage scrub habitat. Upon completion of development and the habitat restoration plan, the land will have more and higher-quality habitat, and be able to support more wildlife.

What is the significance of the wildlife corridor?
Connections to regional wildlife movement corridors are necessary to allow for diverse wildlife gene pools. The corridors help to avoid the creation of isolated wildlife “islands” within urbanized areas and are believed to be important in maintaining a healthy and sustainable wildlife population. The project site represents a link in the chain of protected open space lands to the northwest and southeast of the site, and conservation groups have been very interested in ensuring that this link is maintained. From the earliest stages of planning, the project has been designed around the wildlife corridor, with the emphasis not only on protecting the corridor, but enhancing it by transforming an active oilfield and cattle ranch into a high-functioning mosaic of native habitats.

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PLANNING

How have your plans addressed the concerns of neighbors?
We’ve already made significant adjustments to the plan based on input we’ve received through community meetings and discussions with local officials, and there will be many more opportunities for public participation during the approval process. Please let us know if you have a comment or a question you would like us to address.

How is the Aera Master Planned Community compatible with surrounding communities?
Compatible densities with surrounding communities along with landscape and open space buffers will create visual continuity with neighbors. Approximately 1,700 acres (55 percent of the property) will be set aside for open space and recreation and to protect oak and walnut woodlands and other native habitats. The open space element will include miles of public trails and a golf course. Additional park land, including a sports park, will be located within the residential planning areas.

Who is responsible for final approval of the Aera proposal?
If annexation of two-thirds of the property into Diamond Bar moves forward, three jurisdictions (the City of Diamond Bar, Los Angeles County and Orange County) could be responsible for approvals  – with each jurisdiction having land-use approval authority over the portions of Aera’s site within their boundaries.   Please read the Approval Process page of this Web site for additional information.

SCHOOLS AND ROADWAYS

Where will students from the new community attend school?
Aera is currently in discussions with the Rowland Unified School District and the Brea-Olinda Unified School District to determine where district boundaries will fall with respect to the new community. A site is being reserved for a new school (likely K-8) on the property for the Rowland Unified School District.

How will traffic impacts be minimized?
More than 50 intersections near Aera's property are being analyzed by independent traffic engineers.  The analysis will include recommended mitigations (improvements) designed to offset identified impacts. In some cases, improvements required by the project will add lane or intersection capacity that exceeds the impacts generated by the project, thus improving existing circulation flows. Learn more about traffic.

Are steps being taken to improve traffic flow on local freeways?
Yes. Currently California’s Proposition 1B, Orange County’s Measure M and other programs call for improvements to the SR-57 freeways and other regional freeways. Improvements are currently underway and planned to address SR-57 freeway bottlenecks in and around Diamond Bar. The Four Corners Transportation Coalition – a group of local cities and counties - is also seeking funding to help resolve circulation issues between Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

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WATER AND INFRASTUCTURE

Is there enough water to supply the new community?
Rowland Water District (RWD), the local water service provider, has indicated a willingness and capability to provide water to the project and is currently completing the necessary analysis to ensure adequate water supplies are in place to serve new and existing customers.  Additionally, RWD has committed to the expansion of its recycled water system to reduce the demand for drinkable water, and the infrastructure built as part of the Aera Master Planned Community enhances RWD's opportunity to provide recycled water to other prospective recycled water customers in the area.

What is Aera doing to ensure water conservation?
Aera worked with the Rowland Water District (RWD) to develop plans for the extension of reclaimed water supplies within the project for irrigating the proposed golf course, parks and landscaped areas, reducing demand for drinkable water by an estimated 30 percent.  Drought-tolerant landscaping would also be incorporated throughout the community and homes will be outfitted with water-conserving fixtures.

Will development and maintenance of the community’s infrastructure come at the expense of existing residents
No.  In fact, the sales and property taxes generated by the project are projected to generate a fiscal surplus for the surrounding communities.

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PARKS AND TRAILS

Will the public have access to the Aera Master Planned Community’s parks and trails?
Yes. Aera’s plan will provide parks, hiking, biking and equestrian trails that will be available for public use. In addition, the plan’s trails will connect with offsite regional trails offering hikers a unique experience never before offered.

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ABOUT AERA

What experience does Aera have with master-planned communities?
Aera is the proud developer of the successful Vista Del Verde residential/golf course community in Yorba Linda, which we built in partnership with Toll Brothers Inc.

Who is Aera?
Aera Energy LLC is one of California's leading oil and gas producers, with operations extending from the Los Angeles basin in the south to Coalinga in the San Joaquin Valley to the north. The company is headquartered in Bakersfield, Calif., and employs more than 1,100 people. Aera has also been engaged in real estate development in Orange County and Los Angeles County since the 1990s.

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