Supervisors approve new security agreement, easement dedication for Ridge Creek Drive subdivision

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a substitution in security for a subdivision along Ridge Creek Drive while also approving an easement dedication for road purposes.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote September 15 replaces the lien contract and holding agreement with an irrevocable trust fund containing a cash deposit to ensure completion of the infrastructure and payment for labor and materials. The dedication of one-foot strip easements to the county will restrict access from the subdivision to adjacent county-maintained roads, which was a condition of the subdivision approval.

The Leising Family Trust and the McConnell Family Trust own the 32.96-acre property on the east side of Ridge Creek Drive. The subdivision allows for 14 residential lots and one private street. In March 2008 the county’s Planning Commission approved a tentative map for the project, and after all conditions of the tentative map were met (other than those for which a final map is required) the Board of Supervisors approved the final map in August 2009. When the county supervisors approved the final map, they also approved a lien contract as security for the agreement to make the infrastructure improvements.

In June 2010, the owners requested a replacement of the lien contract with a cash deposit. A deposit of $555,750 has been placed in an irrevocable trust and will cover $248,100 for improvement of streets and drainage facilities, $120,400 for improvement of water facilities, $2,000 for the setting of final monuments, and $185,250 to guarantee payment of labor and materials involved in the construction of the improvements.

Ironically, the security amount is lower than it was when the tentative map was approved in March 2008. At the time the estimate and required security to improve the streets and drainage facilities was $475,000 and the estimate and required security for the water infrastructure improvements was $133,000. The economic downturn resulted in reduced construction costs, and the security amount was revised to reflect the lower estimates.