San Pasqual Valley Preservation Alliance

City of San Diego Comments on the Safari Highlands Ranch Project (SUB 15-0019)

SPVPA — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

City of San Diego’s response to Escondido’s request for comments regarding Safari Highlands Ranch proposal: City of SD’s comments on SOI update/SHR

SPUSD School Board Meeting - SHR on the Agenda

SPVPA — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The San Pasqual Union School District will be having their next School Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 13th at 5:30 pm in Trussel Hall. The meeting is OPEN to the public. The address is: 15305 Rockwood Rd, Escondido, CA 92027.

At this meeting, the developer for Safari Highlands Ranch (Concordia) is on the agenda to speak to the school board about (per SPUSD Board Meeting Agenda):

Safari Highlands Ranch request for Will Serve letter for parcels located within San Pasqual Union District boundary.
Safari Highlands Ranch request to begin discussions with the District regarding reorganization of the District’s boundaries to include all parcels in the project.
Safari Highlands Ranch request to work cooperatively with staff in order to determine additional infrastructure needs for SPUSD to accommodate.

As many of you have noted, the direct impact of the proposed housing development on this school is significant and broad (this list is by no means complete):

The school will need to eventually accommodate ~257 additional students along with the facilities, teachers and administrators necessary to support a ~50% increase in the student body.
The sole access to the 550 home SHR community will be the existing Rockwood Road directly in front of the school – resulting in a 200% increase in traffic on that road (current trips per day ~3,400; expected additional trips per day ~6,600 = >10,000 trips per day on Rockwood Road).
To address increased traffic and safety concerns, a raised median and two traffic circles are proposed for Rockwood Road in front of the school, along with creating an “airport style” pick up and drop off “loop” to for kids arriving and departing the school.
Street parking on Rockwood Road and several existing on-campus parking spaces are slated to be removed to accommodate the alterations to the school and traffic flow on Rockwood Road.
Impact of proposed development on the school’s districting/redistricting

?If you are involved with the school directly as parents or indirectly as taxpayers and affected residents, you may want to express your feelings on the matter to YOUR school board.

DeLano & DeLano Letter to City of Escondido re: Notice of Preparation

SPVPA — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Delano & Delano sends letter to the City of Escondido in regards to Safari Highlands Ranch (SUB-15019, ENV-15009): Notice of Preparation

County of San Diego Comments on the Notice of Preparation for the Safari Highlands Ranch Project

SPVPA — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

County of San Diego’s response to the Notice of Preparation for Safari Highlands Ranch link: County’s Comments on the NOP

The County Board of Supervisors Schedules Lilac Hills Vote for 10/28/15

SPVPA — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The County Board of Supervisors has scheduled it’s final vote on Lilac Hills Ranch in Valley Center for 10/28/15. To stay fully informed on this project, please visit SOSDC’s website for the latest developments. In the meantime, you can submit a letter to the County Board of Supervisors with your opposition to Lilac Hills Ranch. For your convenience, click HERE to fill out an editable letter & submit your opposition to Lilac Hills Ranch.

Notice of Potential ‘Taking’ of Private Property

SPVPA — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

On November 18, 2015, the Regional Water Quality Control Board voted to approve new permit regulations (MS4) pertaining to development in areas of Course Sediment. The new MS4 permit has a requirement of “zero discharge” in such designated areas. An attorney and part-owner of Concordia sent a letter to the Regional Water Quality Control Board that such regulations would amount to a “taking of private property” to the tune of $500,000,000+ would open the Regional Water Quality Control Board and other relevant agencies to legal exposure that might easily exceed the $500 million dollar figure (click here to see the letter). One Regional Water Quality Control Board member called the threatening tone of the letter “offensive.” In the end, the Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted the MS4 permit regulations. The zero discharge requirement of the regulations can potentially be achieved in a BMP (Best Management Practices) handbook.

Revised SHR Project Timeline

SPVPA — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The revised SHR project timeline can be found here: City’s Estimated Project Schedule for SHR?

Lilac Hills Developer Pulls Project; Planning Ballot Initiative

SPVPA — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The County Board of Supervisors postponed their final vote on Lilac Hills Ranch pending the resolution of County Supervisor Bill Horn’s appeal of the Fair Political Practices Commission ruling that he has a conflict of interest pertaining to Lilac Hills Ranch because he owns land ~1 mile away from the proposed development site. Supervisor Horn challenged this ruling and asked to be allowed to cast his vote but that was denied.

During that time, the Supreme Court weighed in on an issue regarding greenhouse gas emissions study requirements that was also not favorable to the proposed Lilac Hills Ranch development plan. The developer has decided to remove the Lilac Hills Ranch development plan from consideration by the County Board of Supervisors. Instead, they have embarked on a signature drive to gather 70,000 signatures that would allow the Lilac Hills Ranch to be put on the county-wide ballot in November 2016. If approved, it will be able to side-step CEQA – a dangerous but increasingly common approach being use by developers looking to expand into presently undeveloped open space on the edges of San Diego County. SPVPA supports SOSDC in their efforts to force the Lilac Hills Ranch development plan to follow important and established environmental review procedures to explore potential negative impacts of development and require reasonable efforts to mitigate those negative effects.

NCCCA Speakers on Climate Change in San Diego County

SPVPA — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The North County Climate Change Alliance is a group working with citizens and local leaders in north San Diego County concerned on climate change issues and how best to address this as cities grow and plan for the future. Dr. Tom English, lecturer, and Eve Simmons, environmental activist, will be speaking on Tuesday, March 22nd at 6:00 pm at the Escondido Library located at 239 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, CA 92025. Both presenters are from North County and come well informed. They will address climate action plans, including the recent San Diego City CAP, and climate change.

Escondido City Council Meeting to Finalize EIR Consultant

SPVPA — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Final approval of the consultant that will prepare the Environmental Impact Report for Safari Highlands Ranch will be decided at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23rd at 4:30 pm. Following the public scoping meetings where many important EIR-related issues were raised, the City received bids from consultants who want to work on the EIR. The applications have been reviewed and narrowed down to finalists. The City Council will decide which consultant to hire at the March 23rd meeting being held at the Escondido City Hall at 201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025.

If you have questions or concerns about the consultants being considered as finalists or other input, there is an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of this meeting. Some people have raised concerns that consultants not be allowed to have prior business with the developer nor be allowed to bid on completing phases of the SHR project if they win the bid to prepare the EIR which is meant to objectively study the impact SHR will have on the area. Both of these are valid points. There is a prohibition against consultants with ‘concurrent’ business dealings with Concordia being hired for this EIR, however nothing prevents the hiring of consultants with past business dealings with Concordia, nor are there prohibitions against a consultant being hired for this EIR and later being hired by the developer or the City to build any part of SHR or it’s related City infrastructure. With a goal of full transparency and objectivity, we feel both limits should be in place but presently we have not gotten a commitment on either.

Escondido City Council Selects Michael Baker International for SHR EIR

SPVPA — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Last night the Escondido City Council heard from several local residents who expressed ongoing concerns about the Safari Highlands Ranch project. Speakers reiterated concerns about water availability & quality, pollution, density, land use rights of existing landowners to the north, as well as the ongoing lack of responsiveness to conflict of interest questions related to any past & future business dealings between the EIR consultant hired, Michael Baker International, and the applicant, Concordia. City Council members listened but did not respond to any specific points. They voted 4:1 (Olga Diaz – no) to approve the selection of the EIR consultant and proceed with that contract. ?

It is worth noting that this same City Council meeting addressed Escondido’s significant deficit in meeting established goals for the creation of new, low-income/affordable housing in Escondido. Last year there were less than 20 units built towards the goal of 4,000+ by 2020. In approving the EIR consultant for SHR, the City Council was authorizing $604,000 to be spent by the applicant/developer to proceed with this EIR. Before casting their votes, Councilmember Masson expressed feelings about the applicant/developer being required to spend $600,000+ to complete an EIR and comply with CEQA regulations, given the previous discussion of lack of affordable housing in the City. It’s unclear if that statement was meant to suggest that $600,000 would be better spent on building affordable housing than studying the environmental impact of SHR. However, since Safari Highlands Ranch is not low-income/affordable housing in the San Pasqual Valley and environmental issues related to large scale development on that same plot of land was the the tipping point in last development effort failing in the early 2000’s, it seems that money is being appropriately spent to complete the EIR and comply with CEQA regulations. As always, entire City Council meetings are available for viewing online: https://escondido.12milesout.com/.

NCCCA Speakers on Efforts to Address Urban Sprawl Development in Rural Parts of San Diego County

SPVPA — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The North County Climate Change Alliance is pleased to announce another presentation featuring Diane Nygaard, Dr. NeySa Ely, Jacqueline Arsivaud, and Mark Jackson. Topics will include Carlsbad’s successful ‘No on A’ efforts to protect Agua Hedionda, efforts to preserve and protect the San Pasqual Valley in relation to the Safari Highlands Ranch project, efforts to further develop Harmony Grove, and updates on the Lilac Hills development effort in light of recent court ruling and County-wide ballot initiative effort by the developer. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about the grassroots efforts in North County to combat reckless urban sprawl development being proposed for the open space that remains on the fringes of our county, as well as area-specific issues related to detrimental impacts on air and water quality, fire safety, water availability, land erosion, infrastructure costs, traffic and resulting pollution from developing outside the urban core/public transportation system, negative agricultural and wildlife impact, and long-term climate change dangers. The presentation will be held on Tuesday, April 19th at 6:00 pm at the Hitzke Community Center located at: 251 Autumn Terrace Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069. There will be a Q & A session after the presentation.

SPUSD School Board Holding Community Forum to Discuss SHR

SPVPA — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

There will be a Special Board meeting of the San Pasqual Union School District Board on Tuesday, April 26th at 6:00 pm in the Barn. This meeting is OPEN to the public. The address is: 15305 Rockwood Road, Escondido, CA 92027. The SPUSD Board was approached by the developer, Concordia, last year about their efforts to build a 550 home development on the eastern edge of San Pasqual Valley, north of the San Diego Safari Park, using Rockwood Road as the sole entrance/exit for all of its residents. The San Pasqual Union School District recognizes that the proposed Safari Highlands Ranch development plan and impact on the school (increased student body demands on infrastructure/student:teacher ratios, traffic safety issues on Rockwood Road, etc) are important to the community it serves. As a result, the SPUSD has included a Community Forum on the Safari Highlands Ranch project on the Agenda for this meeting. The SPUSD Board wants to ensure that the District community has ample opportunity to weigh in on this proposed project. The developer, Concordia, has also been invited and will likely attend to present their side of the issue. If you have questions, concerns or opinions on this matter, you are invited to attend this forum and make your voice heard.

DeLano & DeLano Letter to City of Escondido re: Zoo Road

SPVPA — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Delano & Delano sends letter to the City of Escondido in regards to Safari Highlands Ranch (SUB-15019, ENV-15009): Zoo Road

SHR EIR Update

SPVPA — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Draft EIR is in it’s final stages of preparation. The developer has suggested they are revising their plans for the fire department, the waste water treatment facility, the access road and the public park portions of their plan. Those are areas we, and the surrounding communities, have voiced many concerns about and our legal counsel has submitted several opinion letters on behalf of SPVPA. We are eager to see if/how the developer has attempted to address those and other serious issues. When the EIR is released, SPVPA will be reviewing the studies carefully, consulting with our partners and will have our experts weigh in on the analyses provided by Michael Baker, International (the firm hired to complete the EIR). As always, we seek a robust and accurate examination of the full impact of SHR on the habitat, environment, wildlife, natural resource quality and availability, and the traffic/fire/safety ramifications on the surrounding community.

Last Chance To Order Lilac Hills Impact Report Before It Goes On Nov. Ballot

SPVPA — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The County Board of Supervisors has set a vote for Tuesday, July 19, 2016 on whether to order a 30-day Impact Report on Lilac Hills or just send it on to the November 8th ballot without one. If they do not order the Impact Report, Lilac Hills could be approved with NO study of the impact on infrastructure, services or public safety. Dangerous for Lilac Hills and a really dangerous precedence for San Diego overall because developers are watching to see if this loophole is the key to getting bad, hotly contested developments approved without complying with CEQA. Please support our friends to the north by clicking this link to submit an editable letter to the County Board of Supervisors BY NOON on Monday, July 18, 2016: http://saveoursdcountryside.org

Concerns about City of Escondido E-mail Blast Promoting SHR Website, Concordia Newsletter

SPVPA — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Many of you have contacted us in regards to an email received from the City of Escondido’s Planning Department directing interested parties to Concordia’s website and newsletter. We agree that this email was an inappropriate use of the City’s Safari Highlands Ranch email list to promote the online marketing of the very same development that is currently under active review & consideration by the City. We are working to address the matter with the proper parties.

SPVPA Responds to City of Escondido E-mail Blast Promoting Concordia/SHR

SPVPA — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

SPVPA has submitted a response to Escondido’s City Manager regarding the Escondido Planning Department email blast promoting the Concordia Homes/Safari Highlands Ranch website and newsletter. We trust that the appropriate parties will look into this matter further & take reasonable corrective action. We will keep you updated on their response.

Click here to view SPVPA’s letter to the City Planning Department re: mass email

UPDATE SPVPA has received a response from City Manager Graham Mitchell to our letter sent on 8/2/16.

Click here to read the email response from the City Manager regarding the misuse of City email list

In this response, the City appears to recognize that the promotional email should not have been sent as demonstrated by instructing staff to only use the email list for official City communications and upcoming meeting notices going forward. However we are still dissatisfied with the opening point that there is nothing wrong with having sent the original email. SPVPA has therefore submitted a second, more detailed explanation of the issues along with corrective actions we feel should be taken. We will keep you updated.

Click here to view SPVPA’s second letter in response to City Manager’s email

Escondido Democratic Club to Welcome Guest Speaker, Dr. NeySa Ely

SPVPA — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Escondido Democratic Club has invited Dr. Ely to speak about SPVPA and the Safari Highlands Ranch development proposal at its August meeting held on Saturday, August 13th at 10:00 am. This meeting will be held at the Escondido Chamber of Commerce: 720 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025. This is a great opportunity for an overview of the SHR development proposal, it’s current status and the key issues SPVPA has identified with this kind of development in the San Pasqual Valley area. Dr. Ely will be available for Q&A afterwards. Guests welcome.

Major SHR EIR Delay

SPVPA — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Safari Highlands Ranch EIR has hit a major snag and will now be delayed until early 2017. By all accounts, the SHR EIR was in it’s final stages of preparation and due to be released to the public imminently. We have now learned that there are several issues that Concordia will be heading back to the drawing board on which will result in a significant delay in the release of the EIR. As we have long known, there are major issues to overcome when attempting to bring urban sprawl to 1,100 acres of pristine undeveloped open space. More details will likely emerge in the coming days. Check out our Media Coverage page to see the article in yesterday’s San Diego Union-Tribune.