Encore Club has sweetheart luncheon A-3
Sizzurp - What is that ‘purple drank’? A-12
Little League season opens B-1
Village News Fallbrook & Bonsall
a l s o se rv i n g t h e c o m m u n i t i e s o f
D e L u z , R a i n b ow , C a m p P e ndl e t o n , Pa l a ,
a nd
Pau m a
www.VillageNews.com
February 27, 2014
Volume 18, Issue 9
Closure of golf course appears certain Vessels’ representative says “it makes no sense to lose money year after year” Debbie Ramsey Managing Editor A crowd of over 300 people attended a public meeting Monday evening, Feb. 24 at San Luis Rey Downs (SLRD) clubhouse in Bonsall, and learned the closure of the golf course appears certain. Bill Thead, who has worked with three generations of the Vessels family (owner of San Luis Rey Downs Enterprises), told the crowd “A once profitable golf course, [SLRD] has lost money each year for nine years and nothing will change that in the foreseeable future. It makes no sense to lose money year after year. Seeing it close is a sad event.” Pending final regulatory approval, it was explained that the 185-acre property would be sold to Conservation Land Group (CLG), which would work to return the property to its natural state circa mid-1940s, before development. Tim DeGraff of WRA Environmental Consultants said, “We would be putting back some of the historical aspects of the area and help restore riparian birds and the Arroyo toad.”
Airpark Open House postponed Event won’t take place during Avocado Festival due to parking issues Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent The open house at Fallbrook Community Airpark in conjunction with Fallbrook’s Avocado Festival has been an annual event, but due to parking and traffic circulation issues in recent years the open house will not take place during the 2014 Avocado Festival. At the Feb. 3 Fallbrook Airpark Advisory Committee meeting, the advisory committee unanimously recommended the postponement
see AIRPARK, page A-14
Bill Thead, representing the Vessels family (owners of San Luis Rey Downs Enterprises), explains their
Ken Seals photo
see GOLF, page A-14 position on the sale of the golf course and its conversion to mitigation land at a public meeting on Feb 24.
Clearing brush for SR 76 project bidding purposes Contract for SR 76 ‘East’ segment widening expected to be awarded in July; construction may start in September Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is performing brush removal on what will become part of the widened State Route 76 between South Mission Road and Interstate 15, although full clearing will be part of the actual construction contract. “What’s going on out there is a pre-construction clearing operation,” said Caltrans acting project manager Carl Savage. The pre-clearing activity, which is expected to last two to three weeks, takes down trees and other brush but does not remove that vegetation completely. “We’re not rooting all of the stuff,” Savage said. The vegetation itself will be removed entirely during construction. “The roadway will be put in the middle of that,” Savage said.
50¢ Sales tax included at news stand
Shane Gibson photo A worker uses a chipping machine to reduce dead tree and arundo material near the San Luis Rey riverbed to allow better visual perspective for companies bidding on the State Route 76 ‘East’ widening project.
The shaving and mowing being conducted will allow potential bidders for the construction contract to have a better perspective of the surface. The contractor will be responsible for the full removal. “They’ll start grading and moving a lot of dirt around,” Savage said. Caltrans expects to release the bid package on April 1 and expects an eight-week period for responses. Caltrans will then meet with the apparent low bidder to ensure that the bidder is properly bonded and insured and to make other necessary arrangements prior to awarding a contract. “Mid-July we’re expecting to award the contract,” Savage said. The award of the contract will be followed by a period of approximately 45 days to allow the contractor to move equipment on-site and to coordinate plans, so actual work will likely start in
see SR76, page A-14
St. Patrick’s event benefits public art “Growing Public Art” fundraiser to be held March 16 FALLBROOK – Residents are welcome to join the fun and get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit at the third annual fundraiser hosted by Fallbrook Art in Public Places on Sunday, March 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. The event called “Growing Public Art” will feature artists participating in demonstrations and interactive projects, and delicious Irish food and refreshments at
see BENEFIT, page A-14
Per diem increase rejected at RMWD Proposal was to increase from $150 to $300
Residents oppose cell tower project
Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent
Fallbrook Community Planning Group denies AT&T project amidst concerns
The Rainbow Municipal Water District board considered doubling the per diem payment Rainbow directors receive for attending meetings before rejecting the increase on a 3-2 vote Jan. 28. Jack Griffiths and George M cM anigle voted in favor of increasing the per diem
Andrea Verdin Special to The Village News The Fallbrook Community Planning Group (FCPG) moved to deny a major use permit on Feb. 17 for an AT&T unmanned telecommunication site on Alta Vista Road, amidst the cheers and applause of residents from the Alta Vista neighborhood. The permit was to allow a 35foot faux monopine, which would have consisted of 12 antennas, 24 remote radio units, and four surge protectors. In addition, the facility would also have required a 19foot, 8-inch by 12-foot, eight-inch equipment shelter with two GPS antennas. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e AT & T representative, the residential lot is vacant, and the design for the tree and building would indeed stand out in the neighborhood. Roy Moosa, public facilities committee chair, stated that the family who owns the lot had plans to build a home at the site, and believed that the tower would work with the home design. “Residents voiced opposition,
especially since it is a rural residential area,” said M o o s a . “Installation of the tower would be in direct conflict with surrounding units. In addition, there are no grading plans on file. Based on that, along with the concerns of the neighbors and the lack of landscaping on the lot, we denied the request due to incompatible use, and it passed unanimously.” U pon receiving notification of the project, several Alta Vista residents banded together in opposition of the tower. Some of the residents stated that the tower
would mar their views, while others voiced concerns about sound levels and pollution, and others still raised concern about the legality of having such a tower in their neighborhood. Approximately 65 neighbors attended the FCPG meeting. During public discussion of the item, Peter Hanna, a 15-year Alta Vista resident, stated he had moved t o t h e F al l b r o o k area for the quiet charm and village atmosphere. He motioned for other residents who opposed the motion to stand
with him and be counted. Residents with him applauded, and held signs protesting the cell tower. Hanna also presented the board with 200 signatures of Fallbrook residents who were petitioning against the permit. Melissa Nale, an Alta Vista resident and former planner from Palm Desert with a background in architecture, stood as a representative of the tower’s opposition in her neighborhood. “All of the neighborhood is in opposition of the proposal,” said Nale. “I researched the parcel, and found it nonconforming to code, as it is in a two-acre minimum development area. In addition, the pad may have been illegally graded. In addition, the noise produced by the generator would not meet the requirements of this zone. The maximum is less than 40 decibels in this zone, and the generator would run at about 78 decibels in times of no power.” Nale also voiced concern for children living in close proximity to the proposed project.
see TOWER, page A-9
see RMWD, page A-9
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