Public Correspondence Item #1 Mark Slovick Planning & Development Services County of San Diego 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310 San Diego, CA 92123
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1 of 418 June 11, 2020 Public Correspondence Item #1 Mark Slovick Planning & Development Services County of San Diego 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310 San Diego, CA 92123 RE: Current Status of Fire Services Agreement for Lilac Hills Ranch Mr. Slovick, The Deer Springs Fire Protection District has not reached a Service Agreement with the Lilac Hills Ranch applicant. The last communication on this topic between the District and the applicant was in March, 2019. As stated in the District’s July 28, 2014, response letter to the Draft Environmental Impact Report, the District maintains its intent to serve the project. Additionally, after reviewing letters to the applicant by San Diego County Fire Authority on January 8, 2020, and Planning & Development Services on May 6, 2020, the District supports the requirement for fuel modification easements along West Lilac Road. Without the easements, the District would be restricted in its ability to enforce the necessary clearance along the planned evacuation route. The 2018 California wildfires have reminded us all that well-maintained evacuation routes are a critical mitigation to entrapment, while also increasing the overall safety of residents. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (760) 749-8001. Sincerely, Bret A. Sealey President 2 of 418 From: [email protected] To: Jimenez, Ann; Barnhart, Douglas; Beck, Michael; Calvo, Yolanda; Edwards, Michael (LUEG); Flannery, Kathleen; Neufeld, Darin; Pallinger, David; Seiler, Michael; Slovick, Mark; Woods, Bryan Subject: New eComment for Planning Commission Hearing Date: Monday, June 8, 2020 10:01:42 PM SpeakUp New eComment for Planning Commission Hearing Alicia Klingler submitted a new eComment. Meeting: Planning Commission Hearing Item: 1. Discussion and Consideration of the Formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the Lilac Hills Ranch Project and Update of the Fire Safety Determination eComment: We have voted on this multiple times and it has been defeated multiple times. Our community does NOT need more homes and more traffic!!! View and Analyze eComments This email was sent from https://granicusideas.com. Unsubscribe from future mailings 3 of 418 From: Dan Silver To: Slovick, Mark; Jimenez, Ann Cc: Wardlaw, Mark Subject: Item 1, June 12, 2020, Lilac Hills Ranch Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:16:13 AM ALSO SUBMITTED VIA eCOMMENT June 10, 2020 RE: Item 1, Discussion and Consideration of the Formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the Lilac Hills Ranch Project and Update of the Fire Safety Determination - Opposition Dear Chair and Members of the Commission: After reviewing the hearing materials, Endangered Habitats League (EHL) opposes formation of an Ad Hoc Committee of the Planning Commission. We find no legitimate purpose for it, and its history to date presents various legal and Brown Act concerns. Regarding fire hazard, two points are clear: 1. Required easements for vegetation clearing have not been provided. 2. Above and beyond the easement issue, a Rhode & Associates analysis, undertaken for the Fire Authority and accepted by DPDS, discloses clearly inadequate capacity of egress roads to handle evacuation demand for both the project and surrounding area, with risk of entrapment. Even if easements were provided, the entrapment risk mandates project denial. Given these incontrovertible and un-fixable public safety factors, there is no reason to form the Ad Hoc committee. Parenthetically, we note that similar evacuation risks on other projects have been ignored by this Commission, as well as by the Fire Authority and DPDS. EHL respects the right of the applicant to appeal to the Board, and this is the proper next step. Sincerely, Dan Silver Dan Silver, Executive Director Endangered Habitats League 8424 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite A 592 Los Angeles, CA 90069-4267 213-804-2750 [email protected] https://ehleague.org 4 of 418 From: David Hymer To: Jimenez, Ann Subject: Lilac Hills Ranch Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020 12:43:03 PM I am writing to express my support for this project. San Diego desperately needs new housing. Lilac Hills is a well-planned community designed as one of the first carbon-neutral Villages in the county, meaning that features like solar panels on every home, electric vehicle charging stations in every garage, and investments in renewable resources will reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to zero. It also will provide economic benefits, including new jobs and revenue that are especially needed given the challenges of the pandemic. I urge the planning commission to approve this project. Thank you. David M. Hymer Attention: This message is sent by a law firm and may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you received this transmission in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments. 5 of 418 From: Diane OToole To: Jimenez, Ann Subject: Lilac Hills Ranch Project Date: Saturday, June 6, 2020 11:53:09 AM To the County Board of Supervisors I am a long-time resident of North County. I am writing this letter to express my concerns regarding the New Lilac Hills Ranch development. I cannot understand why this project located off West Lilac Road in Valley Center continues to be discussed by the County Board of Supervisors for the following reasons: 1. The number one reason is that on November 8 2016, Proposition B was overwhelmingly defeated 63.54% to 36.46%, soundly rejecting the Lilac Hills development. The property owner should abide by the current zoning for the property that allows for approximately 110 homes. 2. San Diego County Voters approved the General Plan for the County and this project does not warrant an amendment to the General Plan per the guidelines within the General Plan. 3. March 2020, Proposition A was narrowly defeated (less than 2%) whereby any new development would have been required to be put before the voters in San Diego County. Are you listening, more and more people want smart growth. The next time this type of initiative goes before the voters it will pass. 4. March 2020, Voters rejected Proposition B Newland Sierra as they recognized a development of that size (2100 homes) in the rural areas of the county is not acceptable. The infrastructure (roads, fire safety measures) to support this massive development does not exist. The Lilac Hills project is in close proximity. 5. We keep hearing about the lack of housing. There are 60,000 approved units in San Diego County. Why are those units (near existing infrastructure) not being built first before determining the future needs of San Diego County? 6. SDSU just last week completed their purchase of the stadium property in Mission Valley and this project will provide an additional 4600 units in an area with existing infrastructure and public transportation. 7. According to the latest data, California growth has slowed dramatically, therefore realistically what are the housing needs and who really needs to be housed; those making less than $50,000. Sadly, these are not the buyers who can afford to purchase in this proposed development. 8. As for the proposed development: a. The roads in the area cannot support the estimated 19,000 additional vehicle trips per day. There is nothing in the developers plans that show they are widening the surrounding roads outside the immediate development. Who will address the impact to Route 395, Circle R Drive, Old Castle Road, and interstate 15? b. The assumption that people will work and live in the community is not realistic. Valley Center does not feature or attract employers that the residents of this community would need to justify housing prices that would START in the 500s. That is not affordable housing. Lack of high paying jobs in the area necessitates traveling to employment (personal vehicle as there is no public transportation). Not all residents are fortunate to be employed by a business that allows or can be run via telecommuting. c. And finally, let’s not play the game the developer promises the units will be affordable. The majority of the units are not affordable nor does the project offset the environmental impacts, with fire safety at the top of the list. We live in a rural area prone to fires and limited escape routes. We do not want to become another Paradise California. I sincerely hope that the Board of Supervisors will put the well-being of its residents ahead of its need to placate the developers. Both parties can benefit from smart planning. Thank you Diane O’Toole 6 of 418 7 of 418 From: [email protected] To: Jimenez, Ann; Barnhart, Douglas; Beck, Michael; Calvo, Yolanda; Edwards, Michael (LUEG); Flannery, Kathleen; Neufeld, Darin; Pallinger, David; Seiler, Michael; Slovick, Mark; Woods, Bryan Subject: New eComment for Planning Commission Hearing Date: Monday, June 8, 2020 12:01:57 PM SpeakUp New eComment for Planning Commission Hearing Donna Thomas submitted a new eComment. Meeting: Planning Commission Hearing Item: 1. Discussion and Consideration of the Formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the Lilac Hills Ranch Project and Update of the Fire Safety Determination eComment: Please stop the building of lilac hills farm. Huge fire hazard! View and Analyze eComments This email was sent from https://granicusideas.com. Unsubscribe from future mailings 8 of 418 From: Doug Marquart To: Jimenez, Ann Subject: Lilac Hills proposed project Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 6:03:50 PM Ann Jimenez, My name is Doug Marquart, a resident at 8724 W. Lilac Rd across the street from the proposed Lilac Hills development since 1969. Over those many years my family and I have experienced mostly normal living conditions in and around our neighborhood. Several current and pre-existing conditions in and around the proposed Lilac Hills project have high priorities.