East County Magazine
County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance
East County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.
Reduced Santee Council approves 285-unit condo project near Town Center Community Park
By Mike Allen October 5, 2025 (Santee) — The vacant lot behind the Cameron YMCA will soon be vacant no longer. The Santee City Council voted 3-0 to approve a 285-unit condominium project on the 22.17-acre site which had long been used by dog walkers, model car and plane users, and overspill parking during big events at the Town Center
Harmony Grove Village South development approved by Board of Supervisors despite controversy
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Brenda Wright October 2, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires. The Harmony Grove Village South development will be
Jones’ mobile home insurance bill passes Legislature: measure would protect owners in case of disaster
East County News Service September 25, 2025 (Sacramento) — Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced passage of his SB 525, which if signed by the Governor would help manufactured and mobile home owners afford to acquire full replacement cost insurance policies. “Mobile home owners should not be treated like second rate citizens when it comes to protecting
Losses in Coches Fire show need for firewise upgrades to mobilehomes: County offers grants and loans to mobilehome owners
By Miriam Raftery Photos and video by Josh Stotler View video Updated Sept. 10, 2025 with latest damage assessment based on a report from Lakeside’s Fire Marshal September 9, 2025 (Lakeside) – Swift action by firefighters including aerial attacks held yesterday’s Coches Fire to 5.3 acres, but the damage was substantial. Five homes were destroyed, including three mobilehomes at the
El Cajon receives SANDAG grants to improve streetscapes, revamp Parkway Plaza and add housing
Photo by Karen Pearlman East County News Service Sept. 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon has been given a Notice of Intent to be awarded three grants through the San Diego Association of Governments TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program. The city is expecting to receive one engineering grant and two planning grants as part of SANDAG’s
Building together: local trades connect at Ram’s Hill Golf Cottages
Meet-and-Greet By Jennifer Sencion September 2, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – On July 31, Borrego Community Builders, in partnership with Skyline Construction, hosted a Subcontractor Meet-and-Greet in Borrego Springs to connect local tradespeople with a landmark hospitality project. The gathering brought together electricians, plumbers, painters, construction crews, and other skilled trades from Borrego Springs and neighboring desert communities, providing a
East County Neighborhoods Could Be Impacted By Proposed State Law to Allow Significantly More Multi-Family Housing Projects
By Paul Levikow Image, left, via United Neighbors August 26, 2025 (East County) – Large-scale, high-rise apartment complexes could soon be built within a half mile of a bus stop or trolley station near you, under a proposed state law that would take away local control of developments and turn single-family neighborhoods into high-density housing. State Senate Bill 79, the
How much more valuable is land in East County cities? $14 billion in El Cajon, $10 billion in La Mesa, $9 billion in Santee,$3 billion in Lemon Grove
East County News Service Photo from left to right: Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) and Andrew Potter, Executive Officer, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. August 21, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Land in East County has never been worth so much. According to Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC), the
Disparate impacts in fair housing and how to get help
By Vanessa Rojas, Fair Housing Program Manager July 31, 2025 (El Cajon) — Renters generally pay their rent through the most practical option for themselves. It may be easier for some people to pay through cashier’s checks, personal checks, money orders, or online. However, what works for one person can end up being tedious, harder, or impossible to do for
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GREEN YOUR HOME AND GARDEN
By Mary Bradford June 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)–It was right after buying a new “fixer-upper” home that I realized a few things; I had an immense project on my hands, one that would include a great deal of buying, reusing, and inevitably discarding, because there were a number of details that prevented the new place from feeling
SPLISH AND SPLASH YOUR WAY TO COOL ENERGY SAVINGS
East County News Service June 7, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) — Summertime is almost here–time to dive in and cool off. But maintaining a pool and air conditionoing can be costly. SDG&E has provided some tips for saving energy and money on your swimming pool and air conditioning systems. Make a Splash with New Pool Equipment Rebates
DEFENSIBLE SPACE IN THE DROUGHT
East County News Service May 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Creating defensible space around your home is more important than ever amid the drought. But that doesn’t mean hacking down landscaping to bare earth. Now Cal-Fire has posted information on plants that are fire resistant and drought tolerant. These ideal choices not only provide color and beauty with
FREE PAINT DROP-OFF EVENT ON MAY 9 IN SPRING VALLEY
May 2, 2015 (Spring Valley)–PaintCare, a nonprofit that runs the California Paint Stewardship Program on behalf of paint manufacturers, is holding a special event to collect old and leftover paint to make it easier for households and businesses to recycle their unwanted paint. The event will be Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Steele Canyon
SDG&E OFFERS TIPS FOR SAFE PLANTING THIS ARBOR DAY
Customers and landscapers are reminded to call 8-1-1 two days before digging April 24, 2015 (San Diego) – With Arbor Day upon us, San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Vegetation Management team is reminding customers and landscapers to plant the “Right Tree in the Right Place” this Arbor Day. When selecting trees customers and landscapers are encouraged to keep
COLLEGE BLOSSOMS WITH SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL APRIL 25
Source: Cuyamaca College April 15, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)–Like honey bees to a hive, the public swarms Cuyamaca College each year for its immensely popular Spring Garden Festival. This year, the 22nd annual free event takes place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25. For one day each year, the Rancho San Diego campus transforms into a green mecca, with
SAVE WATER IN YOUR GARDEN: FREE COMPOSTING CLASS MAY 2
By Helen Ofield April 12, 2015 (Lemon Grove)–You planted green beans, snap peas, tomatoes, chard and zucchini, then stood back and waited for the good times to roll. After the funeral for the first four, you were left with baseball bat size zucchini. You left them on doorsteps at midnight only to be caught in the act by a
SAGE & SONGBIRDS GARDEN TOUR TAKES WING MAY 1-3
April 10, 2015 (Alpine) – The 18th annual Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour on May 1-3 will feature five private home gardens plus a hummingbird haven and a raptor rehabilitation facility for close-up viewing of wildlife. You can also stroll walk through a vineyard, saunter through a sprawling old hacienda’s grounds, relax beside a bubbling creek in an outdoor
YOUR GARDEN NEEDS A DOSE OF MEDS : MEDITERRANEAN PLANTS
April 6, 2015 (San Diego)–Want a California native garden to save water? Your choice of plants is a lot better than you think, because California plants have friends around the world. There are five regions with a Mediterranean climate including South Africa, a portion of South America, Australia, the Mediterranean and right here in Southern California. Beautiful plants that
FRIENDS OF EAST COUNTY OFFERS “SPECTACULAR” GARDEN TOUR APRIL 25
April 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)–Friends of East County Arts, Inc. presents its 20th Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 9 am to 3 pm. Five spectacular gardens will offer an amazing variety of settings and each garden is lovingly planned and cared for by its owner. Included in this year’s tour are: Waterwise gardens
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues