Planning Commission FCI hearing recommends two DeLuz properties for upzone

The county’s Planning Commission held a hearing on the rezone of Forest Conservation Initiative lands, and the hearing which began Oct. 18 and concluded Nov. 15 included a recommendation to increase the allowed density on two parcels within the DeLuz area of the Cleveland National Forest.

The Planning Commission’s 5-1 vote, with Michael Beck in opposition due to concerns regarding Alpine and Lake Morena land, and John Riess absent, approved the Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) staff recommendation on three DeLuz parcels. Two of those parcels will have densities of one dwelling unit per 10 acres should the San Diego County Board of Supervisors ratify the Planning Commission recommendation while the third parcel will remain at one dwelling unit per 40 acres.

In November 1993, the county’s voters approved the Forest Conservation Initiative (FCI) which stipulated a density of one dwelling unit per 40 acres for lands within the Cleveland National Forest boundary but outside of existing community town areas.

The FCI prevented General Plan land use designations from being changed until the FCI’s Dec. 31, 2010, expiration date. The FCI lands were thus not included in the 2011 update of the county’s General Plan, whose hearings began prior to the expiration date, although during that process county staff began a separate effort on new maps for FCI land based on the principles of the general plan update. PDS staff did not pursue significant changes, and most of the proposed additional development is near the Viejas Indian Reservation in Alpine.

“I think it was a very, very good outcome,” Planning Commissioner Bryan Woods said of the recommended changes.

“Overall this is an improvement over what could be,” said Commissioner Adam Day.

“We know that we’re going to make people unhappy. We know that we’re going to make people happy,” said Commissioner Peder Norby.

PDS staff expects the recommendations to be brought to the Board of Supervisors in early 2014.