Lilac Hills Ranch is Bad for San Diego
Opponents:
San Diego League of Women Voters
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego County Democratic Party
San Diego County Middle Class Taxpayers’ Association
There are many good reasons to oppose San Diego County’s Measure B – the Lilac Hills sprawl development project -- on the November 2016 ballot. All of them can be summed up like this: ballot-box planning allows developers to sidestep important public oversight that protects taxpayers and ensures orderly, responsible housing development.
Updated after more than a decade of public input and expert review, today’s general land-use plan for San Diego County allows 110 homes and no commercial uses on 608 rural acres that Measure B’s sponsor owns in northern San Diego County. If approved, Measure B would ALLOW the developer to build 1,746 new homes – a 15-fold increase over what the County has already approved -- and 90,000 sq. ft. of commercial uses on the property.
This development will place its 5,200 future residents – more people than live in the City of Del Mar -- in a rural agricultural area with very little existing urban infrastructure (roads, schools, urban fire and emergency medical services, sewer, and other utility services).
Measure B fails to include most of the San Diego County Planning Commission’s September 11, 2015 conditions for approval: paying for extensive improvement to area roads, 5-minute fire service and EMS, and other required improvements.
The Board of Supervisors ordered an independent impact report on Measure B that was completed August 2, 2016. Here’s what that report demonstrates:
- San Diego County needs affordable housing. However, Measure B makes zero commitments to building affordable housing at ANY price level. (The claim by Measure B’s backers that the homes would sell for just $300,000 is not contained in the actual language of the measure and is therefore unenforceable.)
- Measure B will significantly contribute to traffic gridlock on I-15. The County has calculated that alleviating the I-15 gridlock will cost $1 billion. Measure B pays nothing toward I-15 improvements. Taxpayers must shoulder the cost to reduce the additional congestion if Measure B is approved.
- The homes would be located in Calfire’s Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The County requires a 5-minute response for fire service and other EMS. However, Measure B promises only 10-minute response times.
The Union-Tribune and Voice of San Diego have independently “fact checked” Measure B. Both have concluded that Measure B is a bad deal for San Diego County.
The Union-Tribune has come out against Measure B and summarized its reasoning for opposing this “flawed and misleading” project in this way: “It’s a bad proposal – and an awful precedent.”
Vote “no” on Measure B. The facts prove it's BAD for San Diego County.
Pam Slater-Price
San Diego County Supervisor, District 3 1992-2013
Mark Jackson
No on Measure B Committee
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