The Diamond Bar council's decision earlier this month came after planning commission meetings, lengthy public comment at Council meetings that began in December, and a revised traffic study.


Morning Sun Avenue, one of two roads into the development, will be for entrance-only after concerns were raised from Rowland Heights residents of increased traffic, according to the study. Morning Sun Avenue is located in unincorporated Los Angeles County.


The development would be located across the street from South Pointe Middle School on Larkstone Drive, east of Morning Sun Avenue and and west of Brea Canyon Road.


The 99 condominiums will range from 3,100-3,700 square feet, said Nancy Fong, Diamond Bar's community development director.


Four parcels totaling nearly 35 acres were sold to JCCL-South Pointe West LLC by the Walnut Valley Unified School District, which owns the majority of land around the school.


In approving the development, the council also approved a zone change and General Plan amendment that allowed for 99 units to be built, compared to one home built per parcel, Fong said.


The South Pointe Middle School site is where a public park was to have been built. Having no park has been a "bone of contention for a number of years," said Councilwoman Carol Herrera.


Mayor Steve Tye said the benefits of the project include a long-promised, 4-acre public park and $1.5 million that will go toward easing traffic congestion on local streets.


"The improvements could include lane widening or synchronizing traffic signals," Tye said.


Housing development within the city limits is difficult, Tye said, because the city is landlocked. The South Pointe development - city officials say it could be completed in 2009 - is the latest housing project approved by the Council.


Nearly 190 homes above the Target Center on Golden Springs Drive and Grand Avenue are nearly completed.


The Council has also reviewed two potential developments - the development and replacement of the county-owned Diamond Bar Golf Course and the residential project proposed by Aera Energy to build 2,800 homes