Planning Commission approves Dougherty Grove tentative map, MUP

The county’s Planning Commission has approved a tentative map and major use permit for the Dougherty Grove subdivision in Fallbrook.

The Planning Commission’s December 16 decision approves the tentative map for the 21.45-acre parcel fronting the 400 block of West Dougherty Street. Planning Commission decisions on tentative map approvals and major use permits do not go to the Board of Supervisors unless an appeal is filed, but since the Planning Commission hearing did not produce any opposition to the project an appeal is unlikely. In November 2003 the Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted 14-0 to recommend approval of the project.

The site was once owned by silent screen actress Dolores Costello Barrymore and is currently a citrus and avocado grove. In 1994 the agricultural preserve designation was removed from the site and the zoning was reclassified from A70 (limited agriculture) to Rural Residential use with a minimum lot size of one-half acre. At that time a 39-home subdivision was proposed for the site, but the final map was not recorded before the tentative map expired in 1997.

The current project consists of 28 single-family residential lots, which provides more open space than the previous proposal in order to retain a portion of the existing grove and reflect Fallbrook’s agricultural heritage. The residential lots will be 0.25 acres each but will be clustered. In addition to the grove the development will have recreational amenities including tennis and basketball courts. The 28 residential lots will be complemented by three open space lots for preservation of coast live oak woodlands as well as the grove and by one private street lot.

The 1994 project included an environmental Negative Declaration, and an addendum to that Negative Declaration was filed in 2005. No project issues were identified. The Major Use Permit will allow the planned residential development to contain the recreational amenities.

The street improvement conditions of the tentative map include extending West Dougherty Street by approximately 650 feet from the eastern boundary of the parcel to connect to existing improvements of West Dougherty Street at Ceramic Lane. A fair share contribution for the future traffic signal at East Mission Road and Interstate 15 is also a condition of the resolution of approval. Conditions also include construction of off-site storm drain facilities adjoining West Dougherty Street and Dougherty Grove.

When all of the resolution of approval conditions are fulfilled, the Board of Supervisors can approve a final map for recordation. A final map allows for grading and building permits.