Planning Comm. continues Fallbrook Ranch to March 12

The county’s Planning Commission voted to continue consideration of a tentative parcel map and site plan for the proposed Fallbrook Ranch subdivision until March 12.

Two members of the public spoke in favor of the proposed subdivision during the Planning Commission’s March 5 hearing, but Commissioner Michael Beck had questions about the project and time constraints prevented those queries from taking place March 5.

“We were hoping this would go on consent,” said project consultant Dan Wery of RBF Consulting.

No members of the public submitted speaker slips in opposition. In April 2007 the Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted 14-0 to recommend approval of the site plan and tentative map, and in May 2007 the I-15 Design Review Board voted 6-0 to recommend approval of the site plan. Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Endangered Habitats League identified concerns during the circulation of the draft environmental Mitigated Negative Declaration, a December 2009 meeting with the wildlife agencies led to their concurrence that the project had addressed significant issues.

The 41-acre parcel is on the east side of Old Highway 395 east of Interstate 15 and includes areas both north and south of where Mission Road intersects with Old Highway 395. The parcel is owned by Frulla, Inc, and has A70 (Limited Agriculture) zoning.

Roberto Frulla has proposed to subdivide the parcel into 11 residential lots ranging from two to four acres. Approximately four acres would be preserved within permanent biological open space and another four acres would be preserved within steep slope open space easements. The open space provides for a habitat corridor for California gnatcatchers and also covers a drainage which runs along the northwest corner of the site.

The existing single-family residence and a farm employee housing trailer would remain on the site. The existing private driveway, known as Topa Topa Place, would be improved from Sterling View.

Drive to meet current private road standards. Topa Topa Place would provide access to nine of the lots and would terminate in a cul-de-sac, and the remaining two lots would be accessed from the existing private road Fallbrook Hacienda Lane, which connects to Mission Road.

The project’s proximity to Interstate 15 will require mitigation to reduce noise levels on five of the lots, and each of those lots will have a specialized building layout to reduce exterior noise levels. The I-15 corridor design guidelines will prohibit two-story structures on two of the lots while limiting four other lots to a single story unless a finding can be made that a two-story home would maintain a low profile appearance and would substantially maintain the natural physical character of the ridgeline.

Septic systems would be used for sanitation. Letters of service availability have been provided by the Rainbow Municipal Water District, the North County Fire Protection District, the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, and the Fallbrook Union High School District.

“The owner has upgraded a degraded lot and has done a beautiful job,” said Mission Road resident Anne Atkins, whose property abuts the proposed subdivision.

“We’re hoping that with this project there will be an improvement of service including undergrounding of electrical lines,” Atkins said. “I’m hoping that with the development of this project we can move these lines out of my back yard and put them underground.”

Atkins noted that the development could also bring cable television and natural gas service to her area.

“It’s a great addition to the community,” said Jerry Winter, who owns property on Calle Dos Palmas east of the proposed subdivision.

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