COLTON - The City Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to a development agreement calling for the construction of 186 single-family homes on 120 acres in Reche Canyon.

The agreement with Colton Land Investment LLC, approved in a 6-1 vote, also calls for the Iron Horse Hills development to include a 6.5-acre, $1.4 million neighborhood park and a water reservoir.

There was no public testimony during Tuesday night's hearing, but much of the council discussion centered on the relative value of the park versus the need for street improvements on three of Colton's most congested thoroughfares: Reche Canyon Road, Washington Street and Barton Road.

Councilman Richard DeLaRosa, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said Iron Horse Hills looks to him like "a nice development," but he sees the park serving only residents of the housing tract.

He urged fellow council members to eliminate the park and use the $1.4 million for street improvements.

Mayor Kelly Chastain said surrounding residents pleaded for the park. Councilman John Mitchell, who said he has campaigned for improvements to Reche Canyon Road to handle the estimated 18,000 drivers who commute on it every weekday, said the city also needs parks.

Councilwoman Susan Oliva noted that the development plan would divert traffic from Iron Horse Hills away from Reche Canyon Road "which cannot take one more car."

She said Colton needs another park.

Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 909-806-3067 or dsantschi@PE.com