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Sycamore Ranch plan still in progress - Time extension granted for development's infrastructure

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors granted a time extension to complete the infrastructure of four approved subdivision maps, including the Sycamore Ranch development in Fallbrook. Sycamore Ranch is located off Gird Road via Knottwood Way.

The supervisors’ 4-0 vote July 9, with Greg Cox absent due to California Coastal Commission activity, extends the date by which the Sycamore Ranch infrastructure must be completed, in the absence of a subsequent time extension, to Jan. 9, 2016. The deadline is for completion of road, water, sewer, and other infrastructure improvements; the homes or other lot improvements themselves are not required to be completed by that date.

The tentative map for Sycamore Ranch approved the subdivision of 173.65 acres into 56 residential lots and a golf course. A tentative parcel map becomes a final map after all conditions of the tentative map, other than those for which permits cannot be issued until a final map is recorded, are fulfilled. A final map is required for grading and building permits. The conditions of a final map include secured agreements to ensure that the infrastructure will be built and that payment for labor and materials used to build the infrastructure will be made.

Improvements identified in a secured agreement are required to be completed within two years of the approval of the final map, although if circumstances prevent the improvements from being completed by the agreement’s expiration additional time may be requested to complete the infrastructure. The county’s Department of Public Works reviews existing agreements and their bonding requirements to determine if time extensions are warranted and if the security agreements need to be modified.

A final map only creates legal lots and does not ensure building or grading permits. Although grading and building permits are ministerial rather than discretionary, they are not truly “by right” since ministerial permits require compliance with a checklist. Changes to local stormwater and drainage requirements may need to be addressed before the building or grading permits can be issued, and an update to the previous environmental documentation may be required to address new circumstances or standards.

Work on the Sycamore Ranch improvements was delayed both for economic reasons and for redesign of the stream crossing, which required permits from agencies other than the County of San Diego. The construction of the required infrastructure is mostly complete with the outstanding requirements consisting of the westerly extension of Knottwood Way from approximately Genista Place to the project boundary, including the bridge over Adler Creek. The agency permits have been acquired, and the security is still adequate to guarantee completion of the remaining work.

 

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