Continuing to grow - Color Spot's airpark lease area increased by 6.41 acres

The leases between the County of San Diego and Color Spot Nurseries, Inc., for Color Spot operations at Fallbrook Community Airpark have been amended.

A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote Sept. 17 approved the lease amendments. Color Spot has two lease agreements at Fallbrook Community Airpark, one for use on land designated for aviation purposes and one for use on non-aviation land. The amendment for the aviation land lease increases that area by 6.41 acres, and amendments for minor lease language covering notice address updates, appraisal processes, and the definition of the county’s lease administrator were approved for both leases.

The lease on aviation land includes a provision for early termination of all or any portion of the premises should it be determined that the land is needed for public or private aviation purposes. The 20-year lease approved in September 2009 covered 44.47 acres, and the additional 6.41 acres brings the total amount to 50.88 acres. The other lease is for 65.57 acres of non-aviation land.

“I think that’s a good use of the land, and it also protects the airport,” said Supervisor Bill Horn.

The leases include a clause requiring rent renegotiation every five years to keep current with market rates. The next renegotiation was to be effective Oct. 1, 2014, although no change in the monthly rent per acre was warranted, and the amendments also re-establish the current rate. Annual cost of living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index were part of the original lease agreement and will continue.

The addition of the 6.41 acres changes the current monthly rent for the aviation land from $10,241 to $11,725.The monthly rent for the non-aviation land is currently $14,842.

Color Spot currently produces over 2,500 varieties of live plants, including bedding plants, shrubs, flowering potted plants, groundcover, and vegetables. The company has more than 2,000 retail and commercial customers, according to its website.