Inland edition, april 10, 2015

Page 1

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94

The Coast News

INLAND EDITION

.com

VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO

VOL. 2, N0. 8

APRIL 10, 2015

Upscale homes approved in Escondido By Ellen Wright

replacement project. The sewer replacement program aims to get rid of three sewer lift stations along a 3.4-mile segment along Felicita Road, Via Rancho Parkway and Park Drive. HELIX Environmental Planning Inc. was hired by the city for a mitigation report as part of the sewer project. In the report, staff wrote that the levels of a carcinogenic substance, trichloroethene, were three times higher along Felicita Road between Hamilton Lane and Via Rancho Parkway than the maximum considered safe by the state. The report also said that since trenching will dig about 14 feet underground, there is a high likelihood of hitting the toxic groundwater. “Due to the relatively shallow depth to groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the Felicita Road portions of the alignment, there is potential for en-

ESCONDIDO — The City Council unanimously approved the annexation of 11.2 acres for a 21 home project called Amanda Estates at a council meeting Wednesday. The developer, New Urban West Inc., still needs approval from LAFCO to annex the parcel of land, which is currently part of the county. LAFCO, which stands for Local Agency Formation Committee, is a quasi-legislative regulatory agency in San Diego that has authority in the county. Three homeowners in the surrounding area also chose to be annexed into the city because they will gain access to city services. New Urban West has a history of developing in Escondido. The company is responsible for Brookside, Rancho Vistamonte and Harmony Grove. Last month the developers were approved for a 65-home project along Felicita Road, called Oak Creek. Once all of the projects are complete, New Urban West will have built more than 400 homes in Escondido and 700 in adjacent Harmony Grove for a total of more than 1,100 homes. The Amanda Lane development is at the end of West Citracado Parkway next to Del Lago Academy. The 21 homes planned for the Amanda Lane Estates will be between four and six bedrooms. The average size will be 13,000 square feet and the majority will be two story homes. The project must include 3.5 acres of open space because of the lot sizes, said city Principal Planner Bill Martin. The project was unanimously approved and most of the councilmembers said they’ve seen firsthand the quality homes New Urban West builds. Councilmember Ed Gallo said the Amanda Lane homes are not starter homes and allow people in upper income levels to

TURN TO PLUME ON 18

TURN TO HOUSING ON 18

Five mayors from North County give thumbs up to the Innovate78 logo, which was unveiled on April 7. From left: San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond, Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall, Vista Mayor Judy Ritter, and Escondido Mayor Sam Abed. Photo by Promise Yee

Five city partnership Innovate78 logo, website unveiled By Promise Yee

REGION — The mayors of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido gathered at Cal State San Marcos Tuesday to unveil the 78-Corridor logo and Innovate78.com website. The regional branding and economic development initiative will sell the fives cities along state Route 78 as the “upside of San Diego.” Regional business space, housing and institutions of higher education will be sold to companies look- The 78-Corridor logo is meant to unite the five cities of North County: San Marcos, ing to start up or expand business. Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista and Escondido to help keep business and attract new ones The motto shared by the mayors to the area. Courtesy image

is intended to keep businesses in the area. “We have a more powerful voice when we speak as one,” Escondido Mayor Sam Abed said. “Without us working together we will not reach our economic potential.” The regional logo is a pentagon shape with a “78” in the middle with the word “corridor” following. Each side of the pentagon is a different bright color to represent the five cites and top businesses clusters. The website is both a city resource to attract businesses, and TURN TO INNOVATE78 ON 18

Toxic plume along Felicita Road still an issue By Ellen Wright

ESCONDIDO — A decades old large toxic plume in southwestern Escondido has once again concerned residents and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. About 34 years ago, the Chatham Brothers Barrel Yard was shut down because storage drums were leaking toxic material in the soil. The waste material has been cleaned up and 11,000 tons of debris were removed from the site at the expense of the companies who delivered the barrels full of toxic material. However, the groundwater was contaminated and spread to Felicita Creek. At a meeting held last September, staff from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control said the pollution levels in the creek are so low that they’re not a concern to humans. On March 17, the state department released their review of an evaluation update published by Hargis

and Associates, Inc. The Chatham Site Potential Responsible Parties Group or the PRP, which consists of the companies responsible for the original contamination, hired Hargis to do the report, which was requested by the state. Nearly 40 corporations make up the PRP, including The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Solar Turbines Inc., and multiple helicopter and airplane manufacturing companies. Theodore Johnson, senior engineering geologist with the state, said the evaluation update does not provide effective measures to stop the flow of the plume. Johnson asked the members of PRP to provide an alternative analysis, to evaluate technical effectiveness, feasibility and the cost to treat the underground toxic plume. Members from local resident activist group, Escondido Neighbors United, have expressed their concerns about the plume, specifically as it relates to the upcoming Southwest sewer

The rendering shows the Chatham Plume spread in the groundwater in southwestern Escondido. The orange represents 100 parts per billion of carcinogenic substance, trichloroethene and the purple shows it at 10 parts per billion. The maximum amount allowed to be present in the drinking water mandated by the state is 1.7 parts per billion. Image courtesy Escondido Neighbors United


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Inland edition, april 10, 2015 by Coast News Group - Issuu