This is a very troubling but fantastic article about the Lilac Hills Travesty.
Lilac Hills Develop Tactics
This project is the frontline of defense of the new County General Plan We urge everyone to support the local communities efforts to preserves their community.
Here is some additional info about the Planning Commission tour that we just received. This is something worth getting involved in.
This is a brief Community report from SaveOurSDCountryside.org on the
site visit trip taken by all seven planning commissioners and staff Wednesday,
August 12, 2015.
LATE BREAKING NEWS FLASH – VOICE OF SAN DIEGO INVESTIGATES 5am
Monday August 17, 2015 [link below]
The
Commissioners made the four stops on the site visit indicated by the County Map
at this link http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/PIT/lilac_bos_drive2.pdf to view Roads, Evacuation Routes, and impacts
to existing property owners that are not a part of the Lilac Hills Ranch
Project. Community Storyboard copies for the Commissioners were sent to County
Staff Tuesday, August 11.
However,
County Staff could not share the Community Storyboards with the Commissioners
because of regulations about Planning Commission hearings. The
storyboards provided details about each stop the Community envisioned, even if
they weren't on the final tour itinerary.
The Storyboards will be provide
to the Commissioners in full accordance with laws and regulations before the
September 11th Public Hearing.
The Commission voted 7-0-0 that Public testimony would "reopen" for
the new information.
Again,
the Public was not able to interact with the Planning Commissioners about the
Project, was prohibited from interacting with the Commissioners about the
Project.
At 4
stops, the County Staff provided a brief overview of the Stop location and its
relevance to the Project.
The
Commissioners could then speak into a recording microphone to ask questions
that will be answered later by County Staff and/or the Developer. The entire visit was also videotaped by
County Staff.
No
"supporters" of the Project attended.
A few
neighbors joined the 40 person entourage over the 5 stops and two hours.
If
everyone that was interested tried to participate, the Site Visit would have
been unsafe and been aborted at any point safe passage was a problem.
Driving
and parking for the 25 cars at the stops was difficult and resulted in long
uphill walks for many participants.
The Community hit the right
balance to demonstrate overwhelming Public concern, yet not shut down the
Visit.
Some Details
The starting point was the park and ride lot at Highway 76 and Old Highway 395
next to I-15. It was apparent that the one and only bus stop nearest the
project was nearly 3-miles from the project entrance. County Project Manager Mark
Slovick pointed out the 10 road standard modifications being requested.
Chairman Woods emphasized that there would be no statements/questions from the
Public or questions from the Commissioners to the Public about the Project during the tour, but did say that public
testimony regarding the tour would be opened on 11 September. All
Commissioner questions were directed to the Staff, with Project Manager Mark
Slovick as the County Spokesman. Answers
to the questions asked during the tour were deferred until the 11 September
continuation of hearing. Most of the questions asked are ones that the
Community has been asking for the past five years. All seven commissioners
asked at least one question of staff, some asked many questions.
The entourage of county
vehicles, highway patrol, press and community members followed a leisurely
pace up the 395 grade, over the Maxwell Bridge, past the nominal entrance
to the project and through the "hairpin" turn on West Lilac Road to
CALFIRE seasonal wildfire Station 15 at Miller Road. There the discussion
focused on modifications to West Lilac Road [to a 2.2C classification as well
as the hairpin turn]. Slovick noted that the Staff was not inclined to endorse
3 of the 10 County Road Standard modification requests. County Department
of Public Works was present and sympathetic to the safety issues being
discussed and observed. Neighbors along the stretch of W. Lilac Rd. that is
opposite Station 15 had their front yards staked and taped to indicate the
extent their land would be taken by the County for road widening needed to
accommodate the project.
At the next stop, Covey Lane,
the entourage parked near Mark and Karen Jackson's' house where the Community
had taped and painted a large red X on the pavement to show the proposed 80
foot wide crossing of Covey Lane by the main proposed internal Lilac Hills
Ranch Road.
Just as indicated in the Friday
Aug 7th briefing.
Aside from concerns expressed
about the topography of the intersection and the resolution of the private/public/private/public
transition of the Covey Lane roadway along its length, Slovick also pointed out
the extent of the Project from that vantage.
The procession moved on to
Mountain Ridge Private Road at Megan Terrace where Slovick explained the scope
of changes necessary to bring Mountain Ridge up to a 25 mph design speed and to
accommodate right turns from Circle R onto Mountain Ridge. Commissioner
Barnhart took time to walk to the western edge of the roadway to peer down the
side to the wetland below, scratching his chin. Several questions were recorded
about the County design standards for such roads.
The tour moved to the final
stop at the Deer Springs FPD Station 11 on Circle R. With the noise from the
fire station, I couldn't readily hear the questions being quietly asked into
the microphone of the audio/video recording, but there were several and the
last one made clear that commissioners would be allowed to interact with the
Public regarding the tour at the 11 September Hearing.
Channel 8 was recording and
taking audio/video bites at four of the stops and the U-T and the Roadrunner
were also taking notes and soliciting comments. Accretive had only one
identifiable representative, Chris Brown, a County registered Lobbyist for the
Project. The county staff included two lawyers, PDS staff, PDS communications
specialist, PDS consultant Kristin Blackson, and Director Mark Wardlaw.
Four of the five County Supervisors had their Land Use Policy Aides in
attendance.
Overall,
the field trip was very positive for those opposing the project and informative
for those that had been past supporters of the Project. Reality is best seen personally at the
location.
It is of extreme importance that the Community is now able to address the
Commission regarding the Staff Visit on 11 September.
To
repeat for clarity, no additional testimony will be allowed about briefings
provided on Aug 7th. Only new Site Visit information will be allowed.
Detailed speaking rules, such
as whether speakers that had briefed Aug 7th will be able to rebrief on Sept 11
are to be determined. The Commission will be fair about this and not
trick anyone.
The
involved Community has and will continue to present the facts about the Project
without adjectives to the Commission and the Public.
The Planning Commission decision on the Project September 11, 2015
will be an informed decision.
