JAMUL-DULZURA PLANNING GROUP WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC, SEWER LINES AS COUNTY PROPOSES MAJOR HOUSING PROJECT IN PROCTOR VALLEY

By Kendra Sitton

March 29, 2018 (Jamul) -- The latest Jamul-Dulzura Planning Meeting on Tues., March 27 was dominated with discussion about a proposed development on Village 14, Planning Areas 15 and 19. The proposal would bring over a thousand new homes into an unincorporated area of 6,163 people, as of the last census.

Following a presentation from San Diego County Project Manager Greg Mattson, the group raised several key objections. They rejected claims there will be no impact on traffic and objected to demands that two lines of sewer be brought in.

In their minutes, the planning group pointed out the traffic study only looked at the impact of Proctor Valley which heads south, rather than the westward road of State Route 94— which is already under stress from Steele Canyon High School and the Jamul Casino (formerly Hollywood Casino). They felt the plans to add loops inside the housing development and extend roads would not adequately mitigate the increased traffic.

The Jamul-Dulzura Community Plan currently calls for no sewer in the area. Many members said the two sewer lines would be unacceptable. Some even requested the development group go back and find a way for the proposal to work on septic rather than sewer.

The most complex additional issue is the planned school, which touches four school districts that will lose out on funds without those students. Chula Vista is likely to incorporate the school, although Grossmont and Sweetwater may have jurisdiction as well. Former Jamul School Secretary Janet Mulder pointed out that Jamul is seeing a drop-in enrollment and could accommodate new students without even needing to build a new school.

As previously reported, the proposal includes 1,119 homes on approximately 1,284 total acres, of which 860 acres would be developed. The site will also include an elementary school, fire station, 7.2-acre village green and mixed-use site with commercial business spaces. In addition, there will be three public parks, three swim clubs, trails and other recreational facilities.

The county’s development plan, which requires more housing in Jamul, does not allow for the project to be rejected outright as the Honey Springs development was.

The planning group said their options include recommending the project is built on other land, demand the housing be less dense and consider aesthetics, or widen Proctor Valley to four lanes with the same amount of housing. Member Jean Stouf found the low-density option attractive, as it keeps the county’s demands while maintaining the character of the area. However, some member also lashed out at the county for not being willing to provide flexibility and other alternatives to the stringent proposal. While the county is backing the project, nothing has been officially approved yet.

The planning group is asking for member of the community to respond to the proposal. Public comments are accepted until 4 p.m. on April 16th. They can be emailed on this form to Gregory.mattson@sdcounty.ca.gov.

View the County’s public review webpage on Village 14, Planning Areas 15 and 16, with all pertinent documents including the draft EIR here:  https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/ceqa/OtayRanchVillage14.html