Valley Roadrunner Online Search


 

 

 

 

MAY 7

Planners hear update on nearby quarry

 

The Valley Center Planning Group at its April meeting:
• Welcomed new member Ann Quinley, nominated three months ago and recently approved by the Board of Supervisors.
• Heard an update from Barbara Rohrer, the group’s representative on the I-15 Design Review Board.
• Heard from planning group Chairman Oliver Smith on the San Pasqual Tribe’s response to public input on its plans for a 12-story hotel at the site of the Valley View Casino.
• Heard from Smith on the LRC Development on Fruitvale.
• Voted to nominate Paul Herigstad to a vacancy on the board. His name will be forwarded to the Supervisors.
In her report Mrs. Rohrer, a resident of Circle R, noted that I-15 Design Review Board is advisory to the County and reviews all projects visible from I-15.
The seven member board meets the Third Thursday of the month in Bonsall.
Although it has no legal power, Mrs. Rohrer noted that so far she has not seen one of its recommendations rejected.
One of its biggest responsibilities is to see that no two-story buildings are put up on ridgelines in the I-15 “viewshed.”
She spoke about a new proposed rock quarry that has not become a big issue in San Diego County, but may.
Called the Liberty Quarry, it would be in Riverside County, just past the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-15. Its entrance/exit would be Rainbow Valley Boulevard in San Diego County.
It would be a 1,000 ft deep, one-mile long open pit hard rock mine. According to Mrs. Rohrer it would generate 1,600 daily gravel truck trips. It would blast, crush and remove 300 tons of aggregate per day.
According to Mrs. Rohrer the same people developing the Rosemary’s Mountain quarry are also proponents for this project.
Opponents say the project would throw silicon dust into the air ten miles away.
That, said Mrs. Rohrer, would bring it into Valley Center’s backyard and that’s why the planning group should be interested.
Casino Hotel
In Smith’s report on the San Pasqual Tribe’s response to public comment on the tribe’s environmental document on its proposed hotel, he said dryly: “They revised their traffic concerns and came out with the same answer: that they didn’t have to do anything. I would claim that is not intuitively obvious.”
Regarding public comments and the County’s comments on aesthetic considerations, Smith commented: “They don’t care.”
He noted that to address concerns about its lights affecting Palomar Observatory the tribe plans low sodium lights (which affect the telescope less than other lighting) and no additional outdoor signage.
“I think that’s positive,” he said.
The tribe also plans to build an eight foot fence to provide relief for some neighbors impacted by its outdoor lights.
“One lady told me she had double blinds in her bedroom window and she can still see the lights blinking,” said Smith.
He concluded: “Our comments were duly reported and the project is going forward. They are going to start building in July. They rejected one planning group suggestion for making the hotel lower to the ground by building it over the casino. But they gave no reason for it.”
Planner Leon Schwartz, who attended the meeting hosted by the tribe last month said: “The impression I got was that they had an obligation to receive comments, and then they said, ‘Thank you very much, you’re free to leave.’ ”
Asked if the group has “any juice whatsoever to challenge this, Smith answer: “We don’t and neither does the County.”
LRC Development
In Smith’s report on the LRC Development (98 homes on 38 acres on Fruitvale west of Twain) he noted that the Planning Commission last month gave the developer permission to proceed with its proposal to amend the VC Community Plan. This is called “approval to try.”
The developer wants to change the density from the one dwelling unit per acre that is now part of the proposed community plan to 2.9 units per acre.
The commission vote went against DPLU staff, the planning group, and various neighbors.
Many roadblocks stand in the way of the development, not least is that it would require a sewer to serve the development.
Planner Appointed
Paul Herigstad was approved for the seat vacancy created by the resignation of Lael Montgomery. He defeated another candidate, Bill Brodhag eight votes to two, with an abstention.
Herigstad had 35 years in the building industry from Orange county to Riverside. He has lived in VC for 11 years. “I’m a fiscal person. Everything has to be paid for,” he said.
Although Brodhag was defeated, he automatically becomes a candidate for another vacancy, along with Gunnar Hanson, and two other candidates.


Copyright© 2007, The Valley Roadrunner