By DAVID ROSS
The public’s first chance to look at the maps produced by General Plan 2020 will arrive soon at an auditorium near you.
The document and map, the result of 190 workshops and hundreds of hours of work by local residents in various subcommittees, reduce the projected buildout population in the unincorporated areas of the County from the original General Plan’s 855,800 to 670,000. The existing population is believed to be about 443,000.
The new plan, in effect, assumes less supply of houses than the old plan.
The reason is that County planners no longer expect the one million people that have been assumed will either be born or move into San Diego County in the next two decades.
Valley Center’s own projected build-out population has been reduced from the 45,000 that the planning group endorsed to 33,000. This compares to the 38,000 projected buildout in the existing VC General Plan. VC’s current population is held to be 15,639 [Many authorities place it as high as 22,000].
Most of the proposed downzoned property in VC is located in the Lilac and Paradise Mountain areas. VC Planning Group Chairman Larry Glavinic estimates that VC’s potential density will be decreased by about 12%.
“I’m encouraged that the numbers did not go below 33,000 for VC. I think it’s a recognition that they can’t downsize too many people,” he said.
Considerable work remains to be done by VC members of the GP2020 process, including those who want to have more land in Valley Center committed to open space.
Rick Landavazo, who serves as chairman of one of the subcommittees told The Roadrunner, “We are still supposed to meet one last time with Curt Gonzalez [the County planner in charge of the VC plan] so he has one more chance to gut and neuter down our open space and conservation section of the VC Community Plan.”
Pala/Pauma’s projected capacity will go from its present 26,500 to 7,000. Current population is 6,156.
Palomar Mountain’s ultimate buildout is reduced from 900 to 871. Existing population is 245.
Hidden Meadows’s buildout population has gone from an existing capacity of 12,800 to the sponsor group’s goal of 10,000. Current population is 6,329.
The Land Use Distribution Map will go before the Board of Supervisors April 24 for a non-voting information item only session, after being viewed by the GP2020 Steering Committee (made up of planning group chairmen) this Saturday.
Both Pauma and Valley Center residents will get the chance to view the new plan and map.
The first meeting will be at Pala-Pauma Country Club, May 14, (time to be established).
Valley Center’s workshop will be May 20, 7 p.m. at Valley Center Middle School auditorium. Staff won’t go into details of the plan at this meeting. This is part of the planned 6-8 week public review period.
County staff will go into details at two “open houses” June 4, 3-7 p.m. and June 8, 10 a.m. - noon, at locations to be announced.
The County will have detailed maps at these meetings and land owners can discover whether they own the ox that is being gored.
More analysis will follow, including traffic modeling, before map and documents go before the Planning Commission and each planning or sponsor group.
Glavinic, while not yet ready to criticize the process, came close Monday when he commented on the fact that the new plan calls for fewer not more people. “I’m not sure these guys are ready for what’s coming. We’re not going to be China with one child per family.”
He hopes the County will use the input it gets at these public meetings.
“They need to take the input and actually do something with the input. So far, they’ve only had select groups of people who have been willing to spend the time. That’s all the input they’ve got. And they’re reducing the numbers!”
Glavinic was scheduled to attend the “Interest Group Committee Meeting” Tuesday afternoon at the County Administration Center. The group is composed of environmental groups, builders and other “stakeholders.”
The group was scheduled to discuss “Goals & Policies” of GP202 on that day. These include goals for lighting, noise, circulation, public facilities, roads etc.
The group is spending a lot of its energies on different proposed policies for Circulation, whose goal is “a multi-modal circulation system that provides for the safe, accessible, convenient and efficient movement of people and goods.”
Policies proposed include:
• Establish land use patterns that will reduce single-occupant automobile trips, encourage the use of public transit and alternative modes of travel, and encourage pedestrian-oriented development.
• Establish land use patterns that will encourage transit-oriented development, encourage the use of public transit and alternative modes of travel, and encourage pedestrian-oriented development.
• Coordinate the location and design of the circulation system to serve existing and new employment centers and residential communities.
• Locate and design the circulation system to minimize impacts on residential neighborhoods, environmentally sensitive areas and scenic areas.
A proposed policy for the Public Facilities section of the document is:
• Establish a County trails system separate from roadways to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians.
Glavinic said that County staff has been toning down some of the verbiage used in the goals.
“The County is getting into a weasel mode. They’ve changed many of the ‘shalls’ the group went with originally into ‘shoulds,’ ” he said.
He is encouraged by one land use goal that promotes “redevelopment.”
“I thought that was the right direction. We basically need to clean up our decaying citizens, not trash the countryside.”
Robert Copper, Deputy CAO for the County, estimates that the final Regional Land Use Map will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in late summer or early fall.
A growing population and four new high profile businesses open 24 hours a day have created what the military calls a “target rich environment” and a rise in property crime in the Valley Center area, which includes Pala, San Pasqual and Rincon Indian reservations, Pauma and Palomar Mountain.
“ ‘Property crimes’ is where we have an increase in service,” Lt. Maury Freitas told The Roadrunner recently.
In the area of property crimes (burglary, theft, auto theft, etc.) the total for 2001 was 429, compared to 283 for the year 2000. Other statistics showed that for every 1000 population there were 20.8 crimes of property recorded.
In the area of violent crime (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.), 96 cases were reported in 2001, compared to 79 the year before. Statistically this works out to be 4.6 per thousand for 2001 compared to 3.6 per thousand the year before.
“We’re having cars stolen where there were empty fields. Petty thefts are increasing. People are looking for a purse to steal,” said Freitas.
This is no more “caused” by the casinos, than a proliferation of banks would “cause” more bank robberies. The casinos are not attracting criminal customers. But the people that go to casinos are often seen as potential prey by the criminal classes.
“I would say it’s a combination of a growing population as well as the casinos because they give them a reason to come to town.
“There are more targets of opportunity,” says the lieutenant. Officers will often stop suspicious characters and ask them what they are up to.
“Going to the casino,” they will say.
“Then why don’t you have any money on you?” the deputy will retort.
At the casinos themselves security is very tight, says Freitas. “Security does keep a lid on things.
“Casino security share information between casinos because those who are going to do something illegal in one will do it at the others,” said Freitas.
“We’ve got a good rapport with the casino security people. We talk back and forth to nip things in the bud,” says Freitas.
Additional work load has not yet led to more deputies on duty, despite the impression that a brand new substation might give.
“I would like to have more deputies. I’ve requested more. But if money is tight we’re not going to see it. One of the first things we have done is identify peak times and take the people you have to address that,” said Freitas.
The local substation has two cars on patrol in the daytime, two in the evening, and, if they are lucky, two for the swing shift.
Even though SANDAG (San Diego Assn. of Governments) says that population is down in the VC area, “We know population is up,” says Freitas.”And with more population we get more calls for service.”
One crime that has increased significantly is auto theft from casino parking lots.
“We’re not as impacted as Viejas Casino in Alpine which is right next to I-8,” observes Freitas.
Freitas looks on the current rise in crime as similar to the situation that exists during a gold rush.
“You go and dig the gold and something will fall through the cracks. Whether it’s taking someone’s purse or crimes of opportunity. The criminals know that people who go to these places have money. That’s what draws them.
“Let’s say they weren’t casinos. Let’s say they were 24 hour grocery stores. When you draw people at that time of night they won’t necessarily be good customers,” he said.
The Western Days Committee is busy preparing for the myriad activities at this year’s festival, Memorial Weekend, May 24-26.
Information on all events planned, and applications for booths and parade entries are available on the website (vcwesterndays.org).
Parade entries are available at the following locations: Valley Roadrunner; Chamber of Commerce; VC Parks & Recreation District; VC Oil; Community Pharmacy; California Bank & Trust; Library; Country Junction Deli and all feed stores.
Volunteers are still needed - whether to help direct parking, working at parade staging areas , or helping out at VC Community Hall during the festival.
To volunteer, call the following: Chairman, Tom Bumgardner (749-3611); Co-Chairman, Dene Hatch (749-6042); Volunteer Coordinator, Sherry Bennett (751-0296); Parade Coordinator and Fran DeWilde (749-1339).
Western Days T-Shirts will be available around town beginning this week.
Attention Ladies: This year the committee has women’s tank tops. T-shirts/Tank Tops are both $10.
Stop by the California Bank & Trust and check out all the designs that were submitted for this year’s competition. They are on display.
Reminder: If you wear your official 2002 Western Days t-shirt to Saturday’s festivities at the Community Center your admission is FREE.
By PENNY GIPSON
The committee of elected VC residents working with the California Cancer Registry has agreed, for simplicity’s sake, to designate the elected committee a “Valley Center Community Response Team.”
* * *
This is the first in a series of articles that will be presented to the residents of Valley Center by the individuals elected to represent our community with the various governmental agencies concerning the possible childhood cancer cluster.
The elected members are: Kerry Carr, Mike Cooper, Penny Gipson, and Judith Silverman.
If you want some input into this process, have questions or you have some additional information to share with us our email addresses are:
Judith Silverman Mmsilver28@aol.com
Kerry Carr Kcdcvc@aol.com
Penny Gipson pennyg@ix.netcom.com
Michael Cooper dracoopula@aol.com
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Since we received notice of our elected representation from the University of Irvine Department of Epidemiology, we have:
• Secured the promise of Senators Feinstein and Boxer to become involved in aiding us secure the necessary governmental involvement to help solve this childhood cancer cluster.
• Mrs. Carr wrote letters to both senators in November and has received replies from both this month.
• Been contacted by reporters from the San Diego Union Tribune and the Lahontan Valley News ( Fallon, Nevada) and gave interviews that resulted in an article about Senator Feinstein becoming involved in the VC Cluster study and a comparison between the Fallon childhood cluster and the one in VC.
• Contacted the wife of the mayor of Fallon who also heads their organization called “Fallon Families First.” When Penny Gipson spoke with Jennifer Tedford, the conversation gave us some additional strategies for dealing with some of the both positive and negative issues we have encountered.
This communication will continue between the two areas. Fallon’s cancer cluster appears to occur in children ages 3 through 5, while Valley Center’s appears primarily in adolescents. However, there are also many similarities as well.
• Initiated very strenuous negotiations with the County of San Diego for air pollution monitors to be placed in Valley Center. The State of California Air Resources Board was also contacted to gain their involvement in this matter.
We believe a meeting that will take place this week will resolve this issue. We have received data from the State that includes a list of pesticides that have been sprayed in Valley Center over the past ten years and it is currently under review.
The EPA Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has forwarded to us additional information on some toxic chemicals which we want to monitor with the air pollution devices.
The ATSDR is also involved in the Fallon Cancer Cluster and sent a representative to our January meeting here in VC.
• A recommended agenda has been prepared by the VC elected representatives for the next meeting with the County, State, and Federal government officials which will take place in April.
As you can see, we are working hard to gather data, get government agencies involved in supplying the necessary testing equipment and identify any new cases of childhood cancer in our community.
As the parent of a child who died of cancer here in Valley Center, please know that, more than anyone, I want to know what is causing this.
All four representatives want the community to know they have a voice. Contact us via e-mail and we will try to answer your questions and share your concerns with the staff at UCI. We will also respond regularly through The Roadrunner to your questions and keep you updated on our progress.
We feel confident that the researchers we have spoken to are seriously involved in helping Valley Center find answers to this mystery of childhood cancer we have seen. While the research process is methodical and sometimes slow, please know that your representatives are proactively moving this process along on a daily basis.
Invitations have been sent to 137 fine artists all over the country for the Arts & Music Festival, May 4 at VC Community Center.
The juried art show part of the festival runs from noon- 7 p.m. in what, many years ago, was the old schoolhouse on Lilac Road, and is now the magnet center for many community events.
The festival is sponsored by Valley Center Parks and Recreation District and the Valley Center Art Assn.
Of special interest this year are two well known artists who, though with very different painting styles, create something special which adds to reality and magnifies the viewer’s perception by enlarging the viewer’s range of experience.
Robert Garner gained his formal art education from his home state of Illinois at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and then extended his studies in Europe. This award-winning artist paints with immense emotion and depth. The more you study his Indian portraits, the more you see portraits of psychological complexities. He restructures, re-arranges, forges composites, and invents a new language of art with mixed mediums.
Dorene Terryberry is a modern master of oils. She captures the essence of any subject she tackles. Her subject matter is often children posing with animals, daydreaming or playing. They all bring the viewer into a very special place where we as adults would all like to return in time to simply and more carefree days.
Mrs. Terryberry is always busy painting, teaching classes and selling her art. Not just an artist, she’s also a poet, show judge, mother of seven, grandmother of 18. How did she ever find time to teach for 30 years?
Recently she was inspired to paint large oils during praise and worship music in church services. Art is a right-brained activity, closely related to music, and finds a full and spontaneous expression in such an environment.
Stop by the Art and Music Festival to see original art, prints, and demonstrations by North County’s finest artists.
Mark your calendars for the live entertainment lined up for VC Western Days this year (May 24, 25 and 26).
The committee has put a lot of effort into locating, auditioning, and booking as many and as large a variety of quality live entertainment this year.
Live performances have been booked to provide not only non-stop entertainment for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this event, but to provide something for everyone.
The entertainment is sponsored again this year by Valley View Casino, which donated $5000.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store:
ROCKING COUNTRY BLUES: For those who like blues and rock, try it with a splash of country. Come and get an earful from a band that’ll get your toes tapping.
The Saltlickers, a six piece San Diego-based rocking country blues band, will kick off the entertainment from 5-7:30p.m. Friday, May 24.
NEW MIX TRADITIONAL COUNTRY & ROCK-N-ROLL: So dancing is your thing? Then you won’t want to miss The Killin’ Time Band.
The committee has announced that it’s very pleased to have been able to book Killin' Time, a very popular five piece Los Angeles-based band.
They will perform from 7:45 p.m. - midnight on Friday, May 24, providing dance music for both country western and rock-n-roll fans.
HIGH ENERGY COUNTRY STYLE: Now, providing your feet have survived Friday night, starting at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, the Big River Band will combine high-energy and traditional country, as well as classic rock dance music to accommodate every style.
The five piece Big River Band will perform through 6:30 p.m.
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC - WESTERN SWING: Don’t stop the dancing, and get ready for the largest, most invigorating band ever to perform in Valley Center!
This show will include not one but two bands:
San Diego based Working Cowboy Band will provide the foundation. The Working Cowboy Band, known for their commitment to the preservation of traditional country music, will be joined by the Buck Shots, a six piece band comprised of members of the Western Swing Hall of Fame.
Watch the transformation as both of these bands merge to bring you the sounds of the Big Band era, when the sounds of Western swing music filled the dance halls.
This 13 piece band performs 7 p.m. -midnight on Saturday, the May 25.
KARAOKE: Now it’s your chance to perform!
On Sunday, May 26 Pete Pattynama of Star Performance will provide one of the largest karaoke systems and music assortments available in San Diego County.
Sunday is geared toward family entertainment, so this will be a great opportunity to bring the kids and show your stuff!
Because of the grant from Valley View Casino, all of the live entertainment this year is free with general admission.
All entertainment will be live on stage at the Valley Center Community Center located at 28246 Lilac Rd.
Watch for feature articles on each of the bands in upcoming issues of The Roadrunner.
For more information regarding Valley Center Western Days, visit the web site at www.vcwesterndays.org.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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