The Valley Center Municipal Water District Monday finalized the purchase for $1.5 million of 32 acres across the street from the VC Community Center for use as a future campus for its operations.
The purchase consists of four parcels that are west of Valley Center Road and north of Lilac. NOTE: This is not the eight acres on the corner of Lilac & Valley Center Roads.
Nothing will be done with the land for 6-10 years, according to Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant.
The district will most likely need about a dozen acres for its operations. Much of the rest consists of sensitive habitat, including riparian land and land containing very sensitive Indian artifacts and a burial ground.
The land that the district doesn’t use for its new operational center— that is, more than half of the total, could be used for parks, open space, or other uses.
“We’re open to other suggestions,” said Arant. “Nothing says that this all has to remain in the water district.”
He noted that the district has discussed this with the Parks & Rec district. It has shown some interest in joint use projects. The parks district has unsuccessfully tried to buy the property for several years from the sellers, Valley Center Oaks Partnership.
The district determined the need for moving its operation center after conducting a two year study. Several options were examined, including staying at the current site and trying to buy adjacent land.
When Valley Center’s final buildout is achieved, the district expects to employ 120-130. That compares to about 75 today who are accommodated on six acres on Valley Center Road between School Bus Lane and Vesper.
During the two year study VCMWD hired an architect and asked him to come up with a conceptual study of a future water district operations center, taking into account how much square footage would be needed.
The drawing was produced and showed that the district could not stay at the current property.
In recent weeks the district negotiated with several potential sellers, including property adjacent to the district as well as property on Miller next to Valley Center Nursery and the proposed shopping center.
“This property was the best for our needs,” Arant told The Roadrunner Monday.
The negotiations for the district were conducted by Christine Gootee.
Whether the land will perc will be determined later, although Arant said that a study done in the late 1970s was positive.
The district will probably build an on-site waste water disposal plant. To put to rest the minds of those who immediately suspect that the district has plans for something bigger that could encourage development, Arant said emphatically, “We’re NOT going to build a package treatment plant.”
What will happen to the land that the water district will eventfully vacate? It certainly won’t want for interested buyers.
Probably the party most likely to want to buy the six acres is the VC school district, which has in the past publically expressed interested in purchasing the land if it ever becomes available.
By DAVID ROSS
“It’s not us! We are absolutely not in favor of it!” declared Parks & Rec board Pres. Eric Jockinsen this week after reading about the County’s proposal to zone sev-eral local merchants out of business to make way for parks.
Jockinsen, who is trying to promote Prop. CC, which would give Parks & Rec an additional $19 per parcel, per year, is worried that the latest County proposal is a dart aimed, albeit unintentionally, at its heart.
He wants people to realize that the Parks & Rec district IS NOT the County.
Recently the County Dept. of Planning & Land Use presented as part of its Villages proposal the idea that a strip along VC Road in between the Woods Valley development and Chaparral be changed from commercial to parks. The businesses that are there, such as Fat Ivor’s Rib Rack and Terry’s Auto, would be allowed to remain in business, but as legal non-conforming uses. They would, as the years go by, be expected to gradually die on the vine.
Some people, reading about that, have jumped to the conclusion that the Parks & Rec district wants this to happen so that it will get the parkland.
“Absolutely not!” insisted Jockinsen. “We were not consulted by the County or asked about where to put parks or what they should look like,” he said, and added, “I’m still in shock. I don’t know where people come up with these grandiose ideas and don’t discuss them with the parks district. I don’t know where these folks come from.
“We have no intention of spending any money on the acquisition of this land if they go through with this plan. We are absolutely not in favor of taking out businesses to put in parks!”
Over the years the district has acquired or tried to acquire several areas for parks, but these have always been undeveloped land.
“There is enough space outside of the center of the town,” said Jockinsen. “If moved on quickly, that will give us everything we need.”
That assumes, of course, that Prop. CC passes and gives the parks district the revenue stream that it needs to borrow money and buy some of those empty lands.
Currently the parks district gets about $77,200 from property taxes, its only source of stable funds. It makes up most of the rest of its operating budget through user fees and leases.
The County also provides PLDO (Parkland Development Ordinance) funds, which can be used for capital improvements (i.e. land and one time purchases of facilities) but can’t be used to run the facilities. It has been compared to providing a car without the gas, tires or oil to keep it maintained.
Conversely money raised by Prop. CC will stay in VC and cannot, by law, be taken by the state or county for other purposes. It can be used for maintenance. It can also be used to provide the financial backing to get loans to purchase land.
Because Prop. CC is so important to the future of the parks district, Jockinsen said it made him sick to see people blaming Parks & Rec for the what the County is proposing.
“Its’ really upsetting to the parks district and board and all those who are working on Prop. CC, that this is coming up right now. Every time we get rolling forward the County does something to torpedo us.”
An example, he says, is that the parks district had wanted to purchase the land across from VC Community Hall. However, he said, the County dragged its feet on getting the district the money it needed. “Next thing we know the land is in escrow.”
This week the VC Municipal Water District announced it was purchasing the property.
Bottom line, says Jockinsen, “I don’t want people to think that Parks & Rec is trying to pull a fast one. That’s not what we are about and won’t be as long as I’m here. Our plan is what it has always been, to buy park land, not land that’s already occupied by a business. Everything we have on the plate is on undeveloped property.
“This proposal has nothing to do with us. We are not in favor of it. The article this week reads like we are trying to steal people’s property and that’s not what we are trying to do.”
Supervisor Bill Horn hands over a check for $85,000 from his discretionary funds for the VCHS joint use theater to School Supt. Karen Jobe. Tuesday afternoon the school district celebrated the official start of construction.
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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