Madera County's Planning Commission has given its unanimous blessing to a major new development planned for the Rio Mesa area, proposed future site of 28,000 homes and 100,000 residents.

The project currently under review is proposed by Fresno developer John Kesterson. It would cover more than 2,200 acres of rolling hills on the Madera County side of Millerton Lake, east of Road 206. Almost 3,000 homes and apartments are planned, along with 1.5 million square feet of stores, offices and related uses.

But Kesterson's plans are drawing opposition for possible effects on the endangered California tiger salamander and other rare species, and for their potential to increase use of the Millerton Lake State Recreation Area and the San Joaquin River Parkway.

Dave Koehler, the parkway trust's executive director, said that the salamander had been found on adjacent trust-controlled land, but that no survey had been done on the Kesterson land. He also said that the project needed to provide money to make up for its effects on the lake and parkway.

In response, Kesterson representative Jad Dennis told the commission that the project would be required to comply with endangered species laws unless it could prove that no affected species were present. And he said the developer had asked several agencies and groups for details about the lake and parkway issues, along with suggested fees, but had not been given that information.

The commission's vote Tuesday night will be sent to the county Board of Supervisors as a recommendation for its subsequent vote. No date has been set for the board's vote, county planning staff members said.

At least two other major projects in the Rio Mesa area are now working their way through the planning process. In addition, plans for one project west of Highway 41 were approved last year, and a second project there is now being processed.