February 22, 2006 - Top Stories
The five-person VC Design Review Board Feb. 14 voted to oppose the Orchard Run development, joining the VC planning group in opposing the project.
The planning group voted last month to oppose the project, which is located adjacent to Lilac & Betsworth.
Both groups are advisory to the Board of Supervisors.
The DRB’s function is to interpret whether or not projects conform to the Valley Center Design Review Guidelines.
In an 11 page letter to the County Dept. of Planning & Land Use, the board outlined its problems with the 300 unit development’s design.
But all that boiled down to this: the site plan, as submitted, fails to follow the VC Design Guidelines, as interpreted by the board.
The board indicated its pique at the fact that, because Orchard Run is a specific plan, its review is limited to just 26 duplex apartments out of 300 units on 118 acres.
The rationale for the DRB being excluded from commenting on the 248 single family homes is that a specific plan uses designs that are already in general use.
The DRB commented, “There is no record that architectural concepts for nearly 85% of this keystone project have ever been presented to, or reviewed by the community. It is difficult to understand the rationale, or justification, for excluding the local community from providing input on these critical aspects of this cornerstone project.”
It also commented, “We understand that a few models will be interchanged, and that the architectural style(s) are of the same general stucco/tile hybrid that covers Southern California, which fail to distinguish Valley Center. Our Guidelines call for more variety in architectural forms, materials and details.”
In its letter the board also sniped at the developer D.R. Horton, the largest home builder in the nation.
“Without Community Review, the aesthetic and functional future of Valley Center is left increasingly to mega-developers whose objective is not to enhance our community’s distinct character—but rather, is to mass produce low-cost homes.”
It adds, “Obviously, to ensure that 300 homes in the heart of our community reflect our local history and character is much more important to Valley Center than to D.R. Horton. It is the job of Valley Center citizens and County overseers to protect our community from thoughtless, piecemeal, assembly-line residential building — to ensure that Valley Center grows according to the vision that our Design Guidelines describe.”
In its Feb. 17 follow up letter to Gary Pryor, director of DPLU, the board outlines the history of the Orchard Run project, which has actually been a proposal for more than two decades.
“It was with this history in mind that the Valley Center community, about 15 years ago began reviewing plans for a new development in the heart of town called Orchard Run. The language in the Orchard Run Specific Plan Text clearly describes what these residents envisioned:
• “compatible with the rural character of Valley Center”
• “greenbelt open space to provide a sense of spaciousness”
• “high architectural quality, a sense of continuity with the larger community”
•“encourages active lifestyles for residents of all ages”
•“roads that blend into the natural terrain and vegetation”
• “a network of hiking and riding trails.”
Etc., etc.
The board argues that “Valley Center IS its own special place. Many people feel that developers who want to build in Valley Center should plan development that enhances this special place that already is.”
The letter concludes, “We hear from the developer’s representative and consultants that they are ‘entitled’ to this . . . and that Orchard Run is attractive to them because their Business Plan demands x number of units in 18 months, and it’s tough to find such easy deals in Southern California. They’re looking to build this place, sell it out as quickly as possible, and move on. Why should Valley Center be compromised for the sake of this company’s business plan?”
The project has, in its various incarnations, been a part of VC’s development landscape for over 23 years. D.R. Horton Development Group recently acquired the project from John Belanich.
Pageant practice is under way for the 2006 Miss Valley Center Pageant.
This year six young women are competing for the title of Miss Valley Center.
They are Gina Sannipoli, Whitney Bisplinghoff, Melyssa Dube, Holly Hart, Malia Javier, and Jennifer Ensign.
According to pageant organizers these young women have been working very hard learning their speeches, learning to walk in high heels, and learning the dance.
It will all come together when the community greets them at the annual Miss Valley Center Pageant, which will be held March 25, for the first time in the Maxine Theater.
Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door. You can buy tickets from the six contestants or call Debra Jockinsen at 751-1051.
If you would like to donate to the scholarship program you can also give Mrs. Jockinsen a call.
The Rincon tribe expects to have its new fire station on Valley Center Road open and its new fire department operational by April 10.
Jerry Rodriquez, the tribal member chosen as fire chief, and Capt. Mike Donovan, introduced themselves Thursday night at the VC Fire Protection District board meeting.
“You may have noticed the fire station that has been going up,” Rodriquez said.
He and Donovan were there to propose an automatic aid agreement between the reservation department and Valley Center that they hope VCFPD will sign.
It’s word for word the same agreement that Valley Center has with the San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department.
“This is a very momentous occasion for us,” Rodriquez told the board. “We are looking at providing full-time fire service. We’d like to extend our hand to Valley Center to have an automatic aid agreement with Valley Center.”
They want to have similar agreements with neighboring San Pasqual and Pala Reservations and the Yuima Municipal Water District, which provides fire protection in Pauma Valley.
The reservation department will employ two units, including an engine and a brush rig. More equipment will be purchased further down the road, he said.
Currently the reservation department is taking applications for full time professional firefighters. Appointments will be made in the next few weeks.
Asked by Valley Center Fire Director Dan Thornton if the area’s reservations are moving towards a unified fire department, Rodriquez said he, personally, would like to see that happen.
“I’d rather see one reservation fire district that would provide protection for Rincon, Pala and up to La Jolla as well,” he said.
What to do with the high school seniors who have passed all of their required courses, but haven’t been able to pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)?
That’s a decision the VC-Pauma School Board will make next month.
Most likely it will follow the administration’s recommendation to allow high school seniors who don’t pass the exit exam to walk with their graduating classmates and to receive a “certificate of completion” rather than a diploma.
At their Feb. 9 meeting the board heard a report from Director of Curriculum Ken Clark on options for students who don’t pass the CAHSEE.
These include:
• Maintain enrollment in an Adult Education Program until the CAHSEE is passed. (Students may take the test twice a year.)
• Re-classify eligible students and have them return as a fifth year senior. (The student may attempt the test three times.)
• Enroll in summer remedial program. (Student may take the test at the end of July or September.)
•Maintain continuous enrollment in an Independent Study Program until CAHSEE is passed. (Student may take the test twice a year.)
• Enroll in a high school diploma program in a community college. (Currently the rules do not require a student to pass CAHSEE, although that loophole is expected to be eliminated soon.)
• Pass the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) which has no CAHSEE requirement.
• Pass the General Education Development (GED) Test, which has no CAHSEE requirement.
Currently 79 students in the district, out of a total of 400 twelfth graders, have not passed the CAHSEE.
Of these, 53 attend Valley Center High School; 18 attend Oak Glen HS and eight attend Valley Center Independent Study.
“It seems strange to me that students can meet all of our requirements, pass all our courses, and because of not passing a test, not get a diploma,” commented trustee Wendy Zeugschmidt.
Break With Tradition
In a break from tradition of many years, the VC school board voted Feb. 9 to change its meeting time.
The board will still meet on the second Thursday of the month, but instead of beginning the public session at 7:30 p.m., it will begin at 6:30 p.m.
When asked the rationale for the change, board Pres. Henry Van Wyk told The Roadrunner that it was to keep meetings from continuing into the late part of the evening.
Four-day summer school
Also approved by the board were changes to this year’s summer school, which will now be four days a week, five hours a day.
The change was not done to universal acclaim.
High School Principal Lucy Haines said the new schedule might not be the best for high school students, who have different schedules and needs.
“Four hours is very long and the problem of adding another hour and keeping students engaged is real,” said the principal.
“Please know that if it doesn’t work we will return back to the way that we have been doing it,” replied Asst. Supt. Sarah Clayton.
Bart Schwartz, who teaches at risk kids at the high school, echoed Haines’ concerns.
“I’m also very concerned with the five hour periods and the lack of continuity from the four days,” he said. “I’d like to suggest a pilot program. Perhaps poll the teachers to see what they think.”
Over 700 students usually attend summer school each year in Valley Center.
Supt. Lou Obermeyer commented that she had seen the four-day schedule work well.
“I’ve seen it be very successful at previous school districts where I have been, including elementary school,” said Dr. Obermeyer. “It has been very successful for many reasons.
“You will have to look at your instructional strategies, the different materials, because five hours of instruction can be very intense. Our thought is that we’d like to give it a try. We know that we have many students who are credit deficient and we need more than just the one-shot time in summer school.”
Violence Prevention
The board also approved applying for a $100,000 grant for a school community violence prevention program. The program would apply to at-risk students, and gang awareness training. It would be applied at Oak Glen, Pauma Elementary and VC Middle School.
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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