|
Village approved despite
planning group rejection
By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
CAMPO — At a hearing held last Friday,
Nov. 16, the San Diego County Planning Commission approved plans
for the long debated “A Children’s Village” project in Campo.
The project was approved by a vote of 6-0, with one
commissioner absent, after leaving the meeting early. The
approval comes despite a vote on Monday, Nov. 12 from the local
Campo/Lake Morena Planning Group rejecting the proposal (6-2,
one abstention).
Planning group members Larry Johnson and Bob Shea voted
in favor of the project. Johnson said he'd rather see the
children's ranch on the property than a housing development.
“If this owner doesn't do something with it, then
somebody else will,” Johnson said.
This project, proposed by Father Joe Carroll, who also operates
Toussaint Youth Villages in San Diego, would be built on 118
acres off Lake Morena Drive in the small community of Lake
Morena. It would include 25 residences, a school, dining hall,
gymnasium and a 540-seat chapel. About two-thirds of the
property would remain open space and ranch land.
The site would house 200 San Diego foster care youth in
kindergarten through 12th grade: Eight youth per home with two
live-in “parents.”
The local planning group also voted 6-3 in May 2006 to
deny the project, citing groundwater and safety issues,
including the incidents of fire in the area, as well as
community character
“We’re against large mass developments that don’t fit
our rural community,” said planning group chairwoman Bev Esry.
“I consider this a mass development.”
The project had been set to go before the planning
commission on Nov. 2, but commissioners agreed to delay a vote
when the planning group asked for time to review environmental
documents that were just released.
At that hearing, Carroll expressed his discontent about
the delay, saying that any further delays could endanger the
project because of new county wastewater regulations go into
effect at the end of January. If the project is not approved by
then, it could require extensive, new environmental studies, he
said.
The county planning department recommended approval of
the project, saying that concerns about groundwater, traffic and
fire service are not significant or have been addressed.
The commission's decision, on Friday, to grant a major
use permit would have been final, but opponents have said that
they will appeal the decision to the county Board of
Supervisors.
This project has been in the works for more than seven
years, and has divided the rural community. Plans have changed
over the years due to public input, including changing sites
from State Route 94 to the current site in Lake Morena, as well
as downsizing the number of children housed at the site.
Fridays meeting drew many people and lasted several
hours. Opponents and supporters voiced their opinions about the
project. Some say it doesn't fit in with the area's rural
flavor, and they voiced concerns about fire safety, lights,
traffic and the environment. Others say it would enhance the
community and provide opportunities for youth. Supporters said
the ranch will make a difference in children's lives and give
them an opportunity to experience a stable home life.
The planning commission also added a few conditions at the
hearing, including requiring solar power for electricity and
water heating, and replacing the ranchland easement on the
property, which had been added and removed in various iterations
over the years. Regular reports to the local planning group will
also be required from groundwater monitoring on the site.
The project Major Use Permit (the time allowed to
complete the project as approved) was extended from two to five
years. Carroll had requested a seven-year MUP period, saying
that he needs more time to raise the $40 million the project
will cost to complete.
Opponents have 10 days to file an appeal with the
county, and then the issue will go before the supervisors within
90 days.
 E-mail
the Editor
|
