Another disastrous project is before the Escondido City Council again. Pages 43-46 of the Agenda Packet AUGUST 26 is the staff report for this project.
There are many reasons this project should be denied. It is yet another assault on the County General Plan. (See the Lilac Hills issue as well) It will severely impact precious habitat, water supply, water quality, local quality of life, and could feed more sprawl development to the east into pristine areas. Sprawl development does not 'pays its own way' in the long-run and is well-known to bleed money away from the city core and existing neighborhoods which needs infrastructure and support.
The Council should stop this project now by refusing to expand the Sphere of Influence to accommodate this project. The land is currently in the County and zoned for 27 homes. This project will put 550 units where only 27 are allowed under the County General Plan.
Please learn more about this project and help the residents defeat it. The hearing held last year shows many of the concerns about it Council Meeting Video April 23, 2014 and the Escondido 2014 posting
Here are some articles about it.
SDUT escondido-sphere-influence-safari-highlands/
SDUT escondido-safari-highlands-development-pasqual/
Our backgrounder is here http://www.escondidoneighbors.org/projects/safari-highland-ranch
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Troubling Article in Voice of San Diego about Lilac Hills Developer and Report from PC Tour
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.
The Commission voted 7-0-0 that Public testimony would "reopen" for the new information.
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.
Media
coverage was provided by Channel 8 News Investigative Report team http://www.cbs8.com/story/29773310/planning-commissioners-tour-site-of-proposed-lilac-hills-ranch-developments;
JHarry Jones of the Union Tribune http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/12/lilac-hills-valley-center-commission-tour; Joe
Naiman of the Fallbrook Village News; and Dan Weisman of the Valley Center
Roadrunner.
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 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.
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.
Friday, August 14, 2015
ENU Opposes Sewer Project that will trench in areas of Chatham Plume- City Hearing WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 4:30 pm
Escondido Neighbors United filed a letter opposing the adoption of a mitigated declaration and of the sewer trenching project. ENU Sewer MND Letter
The Final MND up for adoption is here MND SW Sewer Replacement project
In summary, we believe this project is too risky and should not be undertaken.
We urge everyone concerned about this project to write the Council and please attend the August 19th City Council Hearing if you can to oppose this project.
The Final MND up for adoption is here MND SW Sewer Replacement project
In summary, we believe this project is too risky and should not be undertaken.
·
This
project is not necessary as current system handles the current level of sewage. If and when improving the system is needed to maintain current loads, current
lift stations can be upgraded.
·
The
project threatens to impact a highly serious contaminated waste site and potentially
discharge waste into Felicita Creek/Lake Hodges through the MS4.
·
The
plan for management of risks has not been disclosed.
·
The
City cannot assure residents along the road that they will be protected.
·
The
City cannot assure the workers in the trenches their health will not be put at
risk.
·
This
project could provide a new conduit for the contamination from the Chatham
site. If this occurs, the City may be
liable for the contamination of any new areas. We urge everyone concerned about this project to write the Council and please attend the August 19th City Council Hearing if you can to oppose this project.
Friday, August 7, 2015
More Jewels of Escondido: Coastal Sewing and Vacuum Cleaners
The next nominee for our "Jewels of Escondido" series comes from one of our members. Enjoy!
Coastal
Sewing and Vacuum Cleaners http://coastsewingandvac.com are situated in downtown Escondido on Grand and Broadway. They have been in
business for over 40 years. They sell really high quality vacuums, particularly
a brand called Simplicity which is American made, and sewing machines and have
a repair service that is efficient and very reasonable. I love that they sell
all non-toxic cleaning products. You can also a hire a carpet cleaner from
them. The owner, Armando, is of Italian descent and is Spanish speaking - he is
very friendly. He demonstrated a vacuum cleaner by letting my dog eat a biscuit
and then vacuuming up the crumbs!
This is the kind of store we need to support
people!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Oppose Lilac Hills Ranch at County Planning Commission tomorrow, Aug. 7th at 9 am
Our first opportunity to oppose this terrible project is tomorrow, Friday, August 7th. Please check out this website http://saveoursdcountryside.org/ for more information.
Friday, August 7, 2015, 9:00 AM -
County Operations Center Conference Center Hearing Room - Building 5520
5520 Overland Avenue, San Diego, California 92123
Map of the County Campus is at this link:
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/common_components/images/dgs/Documents/COC_Campus_Map.pdf
Lunch
Each speaker is given 2 minutes to address the Planning Commission.
Please help defend the
General Plan and speak in Opposition to Lilac Hills Ranch at the Planning
Commission Hearing
When/Where
Friday, August 7, 2015, 9:00 AM -
County Operations Center Conference Center Hearing Room - Building 5520
5520 Overland Avenue, San Diego, California 92123
Map of the County Campus is at this link:
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/common_components/images/dgs/Documents/COC_Campus_Map.pdf
Parking
The closest parking is in the
Multi Story Parking structure close to Building 5520. It usually fills up
quickly. However, there is plenty
of parking to the North near Building 5600 - Registrar of Voters.
Lunch
A large cafeteria is in the
same building. There are lots of other restaurants within walking
distance
How to Speak or Oppose the Lilac Hills Ranch Project
1.Fill out a Pink Opposition
Speaker Slip for Agenda Item 2 - Lilac Hills Ranch - a sample is attached.
2. IMPORTANT - Slips must be handed to Lisa Fitzpatrick
by 8:50 AM
If you wish to speak
against the project, you must complete an OPPOSITION speaker slip (PINK
SLIP). Also, if you wish to register your opposition to the project
but not speak, you must also fill in an OPPOSITION
speaker slip (PINK SLIP). Speaker slips must be submitted by 8:50 am to Lisa Fitzpatrick or her assistant
speaker slip (PINK SLIP). Speaker slips must be submitted by 8:50 am to Lisa Fitzpatrick or her assistant
Each speaker is given 2 minutes to address the Planning Commission.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)