Help Stop Castlerock development by sending an email

Castlerock moves to SD City Council on a 4-2 vote

Despite San Diego Coastkeeper's outstanding letter and testimony (with supporting letters by Sierra Club and PWS/CA Chaparral Institute/Center for Biological Diversity) objecting to the destruction of endangered species on site, the huge Castlerock subdivision proposed across from West Hills High School in the Mission Trails Park expansion area was moved to the SD City Council on a 4-2 vote by the planning commission with one commissioner recusal.

Commissioners, Theresa Quiroz and Anthony Wagoner (Filner appointees) spoke up for neighborhoods (which was a Filner campaign promise - even though the closest neighbors are in Santee) by questioning staff about numerous problems with the Project and voting against it. Commissioners Golba, Haase, and Nasland also criticized the Project for lack of sustainability features or clarity in the annexation agreement regarding service. The latter Commissioners might very well have joined their colleagues to vote against it if Santee's representative had not given a wink of approval for the annexation scenario. When commissioners were inquiring into Santee's position on the Project, Santee staff could have stated what was already in our General Plan or the official comment letter:

"Policy 9.1 The City should encourage the City of San Diego to protect vacant lands in the East Elliot area along the City’s western boundary as part of a regional biological preserve system."

"Accordingly, development of the Project site is unreasonable due to its distance from San Diego's existing services infrastructure, and therefore the site should remain as open space." City Santee Official Comment Letter of the DEIR -- 8/1/2012

Instead, Santee's representative provided a mixed message apparently interpreted by commissioners as tacit support for annexation of a Project to be considered by San Diego City Council. If Santee residents had shown up to the hearing in similar numbers as they did to oppose Quail Brush, the commissioners would not have even been inquiring into Santee's position because the answer would have been self evident. So if you aren't happy with the result, then make your voice heard by sending messages to both SD and Santee city council's that you support Santee General Plan policy 9.1 - protection of the site as open space and that you oppose the Project. You will need to make that clear to the San Diego City Council now and at the final hearing to get a different result.

Cc: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov, martiemerald@sandiego.gov, SherriLightner@sandiego.gov, toddgloria@sandiego.gov, davidalvarez@sandiego.gov, scottsherman@sandiego.gov, markkersey@sandiego.gov, loriezapf@sandiego.gov, JDale@ci.santee.ca.us DALE - JACK <JDale@ci.santee.ca.us>, JMinto@ci.santee.ca.us, JRyan@ci.santee.ca.us, RVoepel@ci.santee.ca.us, RMcNelis@ci.santee.ca.us, Dianne Jacob <dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov>, Senator.Kehoe@sen.ca.gov, susan.davis@mail.house.gov, SENATOR BOXER <senator@boxer.senate.gov>, SENATOR FEINSTEIN <senator@feinstein.senate.gov>, assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov, gail.ramer@asm.ca.gov