SAN DIEGO PLANNING COMMISION MOVES FORWARD WITH CASTLEROCK PROJECT, DIRECTS TO SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL

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 By Janis Mork

July 22, 2013 (Santee)- At the July 11 meeting, the San Diego Planning Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the annexation scenario to place the proposed Castlerock master-planned community in Santee. The controversial housing project could include up to 430 residential units on 204 acres near the Santee-San Diego border.

Planning Commission Susan Peerson recused herself.

Jeanette Temple, Development Project Manager, updated the planning commissioners using a PowerPoint presentation.

“East Elliot Community Plan has always envisioned single family homes,” she stated. The idea for the project was approved in 2003, and Santee and San Diego wrote letters of intent in 2008. “If the site stays in San Diego, there would be additional deviations for parking and loading,” Temple noted.

 On May 7, 2013, the Mission Trails Advisory Committee approved the project, but requested that the water and sewer services would come from Padre Dam. “If you approve the project, you would approve both [or just one of the] scenarios.”

Melanie Kush, Director of Planning from Santee, shared her views first. “The city of Santee has been aware of this project since 2003. The impact of the project will fall primarily to Santee’s residents. If this project is approved in San Diego, Santee will work on annexation,” she said.

Morgan Embleton, an attorney, opposed the project.

“The current version of the plan can’t move forward. You can deny, postpone, or redesign the project because of issues with the San Diego fairy shrimp habitat. It’s an illegal take under the Endangered Species Act; it would be illegal to grant authority to kill before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services permit comes,” she stated, voicing concern over “undue pressure” to grant a permit on land that could be home to the last vernal pools for the endangered shrimp.

Mason Scott from Santee was the next to object. “It creates significant unmitigated impact. Instead, Castlerock will rely on the city of Santee; Santee disapproves.” Reasons include “habitat loss, population loss to nesting birds, [and] it’s located directly below Sycamore landfill. There’s decomposition,” he noted.

Van Collinsworth, a natural resource geographer and head of Preserve Wild Santee, also spoke about why he opposes the project.

“We’ve submitted a letter asking you to reject the project. There’s the issue of fire safety, at the footprint of the Cedar fire corridor, firestorm vulnerable. Gridlock vehicles could be exposed to radiation heat,” he noted. “You could destroy the only four occupied vernal pools.” He also argued that the plan fails to include rooftop solar and harms public resources.

Jimmy Ayala, Director of Community Development from project developer Pardee Homes, showed a PowerPoint presentation.

“Our objective is to be sensitive to the natural environment and habitat preservation.. It’s desired to be consistent with the San Diego General Plan, East Elliot Community Plan, and Mission Trails Design Guidelines,” he stated, adding that Pardee coordinated the entrance with West Hills High School. “We believe we’re building homes on the foothill below. In March 2013, the annexation initiation was approved at the Land Use and Housing Committee.”

He added, “Castlerock is evolving. We replaced multi-family unit wit all free-standing homes, added pocket parks, widened parkways, sidewalk and trail along Mast Boulevard,” among other things. “It has been reviewed and edited by the Wetland Advisory Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Cities of San Diego and Santee, and the Mission Trails Citizens Advisory Committee.. We have applied for a take permit with the services. We’ve walked the site; we’ve seen the fairy shrimp. We laid down the site plan and redesigned it,” he said, adding that Pardee has held “hundreds of meetings with project stakeholders.”   He said the developer recently was at Santee Community Park during an outdoor movie showing,, where they passed out many brochures. “We got over 10% response rates [that were] overwhelmingly positive.” The project would create 650 construction jobs, he added.

Melissa Kessler, a Santee resident, also spoke in favor. “As part of the younger generation without kids, I want one of the nice, newer homes. My husband went to West Hills and he likes the idea of the kids walking to school.”

Dave Dilday was the last to speak. “I’m a native San Diegan. I grew up within a few miles of the project. [This] would be a major improvement for this area. Santee is crying out for move-up housing. It brings much needed homes. Pardee is a very well respected developer. I bought my second home from Pardee; it’s an amazing community. I see this community as very similar. I believe you folks should approve.”

Planning Commission Michael Smiley asked Ayala, “How did you come up with the jobs?” Ayala told him a job creation analysis was done and that the “wage earners generate jobs.”

Theresa Quiroz asked Ayala about the green court units, which are single family homes on condominium lots. Ayala explained, “They are entry level style homes; it’s clustered around a private driveway. These are smaller homes. The owner owns the space, and the association owns the area around the home.” Quiroz also wondered how the project would be split between San Diego and Santee. Temple told her, “We’re still working on an annexation agreement.”

Quiroz was curious as to when Santee would object. Temple said, “This has happened in the past. But it has been a collaborative effort at this point.”

Quiroz then shared her views. “Mr. Collinsworth, I enjoyed your letter. It was extraordinarily helpful. I think what concerned me the most is that the vernal pool plan hasn’t been completed yet.”

Jeannie Krosch from Multiple Species Conservation Program explained, “We’re currently working with a couple organizations. The vernal pools have been looked at with the wildlife agencies. They both sent letters that they agree with the boundary line adjustment and the vernal pool area. They are in depression areas. There are other vernal pools with the majority of fairy shrimp in them.”

Quiroz was still not convinced. “Personally, I’m very concerned. The lives of construction workers are at risk. I disagree with the EIR that there’s no significance; there is. I’m concerned about landslide areas and wildfires. I disagree with the deviation that chimneys be put in. I’m against deviations and the viability of homes; there are too many issues that can’t be dealt with. I will not be able to approve the project.”

Vice Chairperson Tim Golba then shared his opinion. “I want to compliment you on the set design itself. I appreciate the 3D overlay image. It’s good that it stays in Santee. You guys are a great company, but sustainability features just aren’t there. This city should get serious about affordable housing and sustainable design. Insulated windows aren’t that great.”

Stephen Haase spoke next. “I appreciate the effort of the applicant. I’m concerned about the lack of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities. Could this project be approved without annexation to Santee?” Temple agreed. “I like the fire safety. I like the the current fairy shrimp don’t live in vernal pools.”

Ayala told him, “Padre Dam is very interested in serving the project.” Kids could attend Carlton Oaks and Sycamore Canyon Elementary if they lived in these new homes, besides attending West Hills. Haase also disagreed with the sustainability. “It helps with greenhouse gas reductions. If this is developed in a no-annexation scenario I’m concerned about the fire department” and the response time. Temple told him that San Diego Fire Chief Javier Mainar is “very good at working with us.”

Assistant Chief from Support Services, Ken Barnes, answered. “We’re suggesting annexation is the preferred period. We can’t provide a response time.” Temple told Haase the issue of fire safety would be resolved.

Anthony Wagner wanted to know, “If the project is disapproved, Padre Dam wouldn’t provide water? That’s fair?” Temple concurred. “That’s fair. A water tower is being proposed.” Ayala said the project is clearly closer to Santee.

Wagner shared his views. “I think the homes are beautiful. I don’t think it’s the right time for a specific development. The primary focus should be on the public health, safety, and welfare. There’s inadequate use of fire, medical, electricity.. I’m against the annexation, boundary line adjustment and because of no solar. It’s located below the Sycamore landfill; the EIR doesn’t address the landfill’s negative effects. I support a no-project alternative.”

Chairperson Eric Naslund was the final to speak. “I personally agree with fire concerns. It’s a wrong neighborhood from an access/connection perspective. I agree with the sustainable issues. I do think it’s best suited as an annexation project. I support if it’s annexed in Santee.”

Haase recommended for annexation in Santee. Smiley seconded.

Wagner and Quiroz were against. Golba, Naslund, Smiley and Haase voted in favor. The motion passed 4-2, and it will now go to San Diego City Council.

 


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