Castlerock Vote, September 16th

San Diego City Council

202 C Street

San Diego CA 92101

Project Name: Castlerock

Project No. 10046

Community Plan Area: East Elliott

Council District: 7

San Diego City Councilmember,

The proposed Castlerock Project creates "Significant Unmitigated Impacts"; therefore, I Stephen W. Houlahan, am opposed to this development and urge the San Diego City Council to choose the "No Project Alternative".

The Castlerock Development is detached from San Diego’s resources and services. Pardee Homes fails to provide the basic infrastructure necessary for this proposed community. Educational, utility, and public safety infrastructure is inadequate in the Castlerock FEIR; which has omitted schools, libraries, adequate water resources, in addition to failing to provide adequate fire and police protection. The inability to provide basic services to Castlerock should not be remedied by annexation to the City of Santee upon completion. The annexation scenario is unethical and a deceiving abuse of power.

Castlerock's proposed location adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park will destroy a section of the historic "Stowe Trail". The "Stowe Trail" offers hikers, bikers, and horseback riders unlimited recreational opportunities, while linking MTRP to the Goodan Ranch and Sycamore Canyon Preserve. According to the FEIR, "The project would potentially result in significant impacts to covered species through habitat loss or reduction in plant populations. Also the project could result in significant indirect impacts to nesting birds (including raptors and coastal California gnatcatcher) within the MHPA"(pg. 3). I urge the City Council to consider dedicating this land as "open space" and annexing it to Mission Trails Regional Park.

The Castlerock project fails to achieve San Diego’s 28.3 Business as Usual (BAU) reduction goal. The FEIR state’s "As the project would not achieve the City’s GHG reduction goal, it would result in significant GHG impact" (pg. 10). The adjacent community will be subject loud construction noise, widespread dust, and significant diesel emissions; with many residents living directly adjacent to the proposed site.

Finally, the proposed Castlerock Project is located directly below the Sycamore Landfill. Decomposition at the Sycamore Landfill emits methane; which residents complain is malodorous, nauseating, and difficult to breath on hot days. The land between Santee and the Sycamore Landfill has always served as a buffer between people and trash. To change the zoning is a crime perpetrated on future generations.

As a father and Registered Nurse, I respectfully urge the City Council to oppose Castlerock by choosing the "No Project Alternative".

Stephen W. Houlahan RN, MSN, MBA

Friends of East Elliott