{"id":153,"date":"2015-08-17T16:43:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T16:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esconeighbors.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=153"},"modified":"2015-08-17T16:43:00","modified_gmt":"2015-08-17T16:43:00","slug":"troubling-article-in-voice-of-san-diego-about-lilac-hills-developer-and-report-from-pc-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/?p=153","title":{"rendered":"Troubling Article in Voice of San Diego about Lilac Hills Developer and Report from PC Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a very troubling but fantastic article about the Lilac Hills Travesty.Lilac Hills Develop Tactics<\/a>
\nThis project is the frontline of defense of the new County General Plan  We urge everyone to support the local communities efforts to preserves their community.<\/p>\n

\nHere is some additional info about the Planning Commission tour that we just received.  This is something worth getting involved in.  <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\nThis is a brief Community report from <\/span>SaveOurSDCountryside.org<\/a><\/span> on the
\nsite visit trip taken by all seven planning commissioners and staff Wednesday,
\nAugust 12, 2015.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nLATE BREAKING NEWS FLASH \u2013 VOICE OF SAN DIEGO INVESTIGATES<\/span><\/b> 5am
\nMonday August 17, 2015<\/span> [link below]<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.voiceofsandiego.org\/topics\/land-use\/developer-wont-take-no-for-an-answer-on-massive-lilac-hills-ranch-project\/<\/span><\/a><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe
\nCommissioners made the four stops on the site visit indicated by the County Map
\nat this link <\/span>http:\/\/www.sandiegocounty.gov\/content\/dam\/sdc\/pds\/PIT\/lilac_bos_drive2.pdf<\/span><\/a>  to view Roads, Evacuation Routes, and impacts
\nto existing property owners that are not a part of the Lilac Hills Ranch
\nProject. Community Storyboard copies for the Commissioners were sent to County
\nStaff Tuesday, August 11.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nHowever,
\nCounty Staff could not share the Community Storyboards with the Commissioners
\nbecause of regulations about Planning Commission hearings.  The
\nstoryboards provided details about each stop the Community envisioned, even if
\nthey weren’t on the final tour itinerary. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe Storyboards will be provide
\nto the Commissioners in full accordance with laws and regulations before the
\nSeptember 11th<\/sup> Public Hearing. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n
\nThe Commission voted 7-0-0 that Public testimony would “reopen” for
\nthe new information.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAgain,
\nthe Public was not able to interact with the Planning Commissioners about the
\nProject, was prohibited from interacting with the Commissioners about the
\nProject.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAt 4
\nstops, the County Staff provided a brief overview of the Stop location and its
\nrelevance to the Project.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe
\nCommissioners could then speak into a recording microphone to ask questions
\nthat will be answered later by County Staff and\/or the Developer.  The entire visit was also videotaped by
\nCounty Staff.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nNo
\n“supporters” of the Project attended.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nA few
\nneighbors joined the 40 person entourage over the 5 stops and two hours.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nMedia
\ncoverage was provided by Channel 8 News Investigative Report team <\/span>http:\/\/www.cbs8.com\/story\/29773310\/planning-commissioners-tour-site-of-proposed-lilac-hills-ranch-developments<\/span><\/a>;
\nJHarry Jones of the Union Tribune <\/span>http:\/\/www.sandiegouniontribune.com\/news\/2015\/aug\/12\/lilac-hills-valley-center-commission-tour<\/span><\/a>; Joe
\nNaiman of the Fallbrook Village News; and Dan Weisman of the Valley Center
\nRoadrunner.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIf
\neveryone that was interested tried to participate, the Site Visit would have
\nbeen unsafe and been aborted at any point safe passage was a problem.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nDriving
\nand parking for the 25 cars at the stops was difficult and resulted in long
\nuphill walks for many participants.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n  <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\nThe Community hit the right
\nbalance to demonstrate overwhelming Public concern, yet not shut down the
\nVisit. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nSome Details<\/span><\/u>
\nThe starting point was the park and ride lot at Highway 76 and Old Highway 395
\nnext to I-15. It was apparent that the one and only bus stop nearest the
\nproject was nearly 3-miles from the project entrance. County Project Manager Mark
\nSlovick pointed out the 10 road standard modifications being requested.
\nChairman Woods emphasized that there would be no statements\/questions from the
\nPublic or questions from the Commissioners to the Public about the Project <\/i>during the tour, but did say that public
\ntestimony regarding the tour would be opened on 11 September.  All
\nCommissioner questions were directed to the Staff, with Project Manager Mark
\nSlovick as the County Spokesman.  Answers
\nto the questions asked during the tour were deferred until the 11 September
\ncontinuation of hearing. Most of the questions asked are ones that the
\nCommunity has been asking for the past five years. All seven commissioners
\nasked at least one question of staff, some asked many questions. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe entourage of county
\nvehicles, highway patrol, press and community members followed a leisurely
\npace up the 395 grade, over the Maxwell Bridge, past the nominal entrance
\nto the project and through the “hairpin” turn on West Lilac Road to
\nCALFIRE seasonal wildfire Station 15 at Miller Road. There the discussion
\nfocused on modifications to West Lilac Road [to a 2.2C classification as well
\nas the hairpin turn]. Slovick noted that the Staff was not inclined to endorse
\n3 of the 10 County Road Standard modification requests.  County Department
\nof Public Works was present and sympathetic to the safety issues being
\ndiscussed and observed. Neighbors along the stretch of W. Lilac Rd. that is
\nopposite Station 15 had their front yards staked and taped to indicate the
\nextent their land would be taken by the County for road widening needed to
\naccommodate the project. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAt the next stop, Covey Lane,
\nthe entourage parked near Mark and Karen Jackson’s’ house where the Community
\nhad taped and painted a large red X on the pavement to show the proposed 80
\nfoot wide crossing of Covey Lane by the main proposed internal Lilac Hills
\nRanch Road. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nJust as indicated in the Friday
\nAug 7th briefing. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAside from concerns expressed
\nabout the topography of the intersection and the resolution of the private\/public\/private\/public
\ntransition of the Covey Lane roadway along its length, Slovick also pointed out
\nthe extent of the Project from that vantage. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe procession moved on to
\nMountain Ridge Private Road at Megan Terrace where Slovick explained the scope
\nof changes necessary to bring Mountain Ridge up to a 25 mph design speed and to
\naccommodate right turns from Circle R onto Mountain Ridge. Commissioner
\nBarnhart took time to walk to the western edge of the roadway to peer down the
\nside to the wetland below, scratching his chin. Several questions were recorded
\nabout the County design standards for such roads. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe tour moved to the final
\nstop at the Deer Springs FPD Station 11 on Circle R. With the noise from the
\nfire station, I couldn’t readily hear the questions being quietly asked into
\nthe microphone of the audio\/video recording, but there were several and the
\nlast one made clear that commissioners would be allowed to interact with the
\nPublic regarding the tour at the 11 September Hearing.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nChannel 8 was recording and
\ntaking audio\/video bites at four of the stops and the U-T and the Roadrunner
\nwere also taking notes and soliciting comments. Accretive had only one
\nidentifiable representative, Chris Brown, a County registered Lobbyist for the
\nProject. The county staff included two lawyers, PDS staff, PDS communications
\nspecialist, PDS consultant Kristin Blackson, and Director Mark Wardlaw. 
\nFour of the five County Supervisors had their Land Use Policy Aides in
\nattendance. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nOverall,
\nthe field trip was very positive for those opposing the project and informative
\nfor those that had been past supporters of the Project.  Reality is best seen personally at the
\nlocation. <\/p>\n

It is of extreme importance that the Community is now able to address the
\nCommission regarding the Staff Visit on 11 September. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n

\nTo
\nrepeat for clarity, no additional testimony will be allowed about briefings
\nprovided on Aug 7th.  Only new Site Visit information will be allowed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\nDetailed speaking rules, such
\nas whether speakers that had briefed Aug 7th will be able to rebrief on Sept 11
\nare to be determined.  The Commission will be fair about this and not
\ntrick anyone. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe
\ninvolved Community has and will continue to present the facts about the Project
\nwithout adjectives to the Commission and the Public. <\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nThe Planning Commission decision on the Project September 11, 2015
\nwill be an informed decision.<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is a very troubling but fantastic article about the Lilac Hills Travesty.Lilac Hills Develop Tactics This project is the frontline of defense of the new County General Plan  We urge everyone to support the local communities efforts to preserves … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Escondido Neighbors United","author_link":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/?author=1"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escondidoneighbors.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}