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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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.
East County Arts Organizations
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues
AFRICAN GARDEN, AIRPLANE MODELS AND LOTS OF COLOR AT 19TH ANNUAL FRIENDS OF EAST COUNTY’S GARDEN TOUR
By Janis Russell April 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)– Despite windy weather and some rain, the 19th annual garden tour presented by Friends of East County Arts on April 26 was still held, providing visitors with an array of colorful and fascinating gardens to enjoy. This event was put on by Friends of East County Arts, Inc, which
SAGE & SONGBIRDS PREVIEW: NIGHT-TIME GARDENER REAPS RARE REWARDS
This garden and others will be on view at the Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour May 2-4 in Alpine Story by Maureen Austin, CHIRP Photos by Mendi Wyatt, CHIRP April 15, 2014 (Alpine) – Laughingly labeled as a “plant hoarder” by a friend, Pete Swoboda prefers the title “plant collector.” He says he never met a plant he didn’t
10 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR POOL SAFE AND LOOKING GREAT!
April 6, 2014 (San Diego)–The rains have gone and temperatures are expected to start rising again. And that means swimming pool season can’t be far off! Every year, San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health (DEH) inspects about 4,000 public swimming pools and spas to make sure they’re clean and safe. Now, they only inspect public pools — not
EAST COUNTY GARDEN TOUR BLOSSOMS APRIL 26
March 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)–Friends of East County Arts, Inc. presents its 19th Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Six 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: Recreated gardens of
OPENING YOUR POOL FOR A NEW SUMMER SEASON
By Ryan Harrison Photo by harmonicagoldfish via Flickr March 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Preparing your swimming pool for the upcoming summer season means more just than taking off the cover and refilling it. After a long winter, your pool may be green and full of gunk and debris. More than 53,000 in-ground pools and 171,000 above-ground
COUNTY OFFERS VIDEOS ON WATER CONSERVATION GARDENING
March 20, 2014 (San Diego)–California is in the midst of a drought emergency, and there’s no relief in sight as our unseasonably warm winter continues. Gov. Jerry Brown is asking all residents to cut water use by 20 percent — something that may be easier than you think. Simple changes in the garden can make a big difference when it
PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING
Photo credit: Tom Lemon Safety tips from the nonprofit FLASH March 1, 2014 (San Diego)–With much needed rain expected over the next few days, residents should take precautions to protect their home and family from the possibility of flooding. Eighteen to 24 inches of moving water can wash an SUV off of the road. In fact, according to the National
EAST COUNTY REALTORS HOST CLASS ON SELLING HUD HOMES
February 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, a trade group for San Diego-area realtors who serve East County and South County communities, will host a free class for realtors on the process of selling homes offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on
EL CAJON’S MAYOR MEETS WITH REALTORS
February 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), a 2,000-member trade group for San Diego area realtors, hosted El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells at a recent PSAR brown-bag lunchtime conversation presented by PSAR’s Government Affairs Committee. Wells, a city councilman in El Cajon since 2008 and mayor pro tem since December 2012,
HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR MORTGAGE INSURANCE – MI & PMI
By E. Vernon Small Mortgage Insurance is required on conventional and FHA loans if the loan to value of the loan amount exceeds 80% of the value of the home. It is an insurance policy that covers the lender in case of default or loss when the loan balance exceeds the property value. Unfortunately, most homeowners will have to
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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