2. Enviromental Attorney Marco Gonzalez threatened the Council if they did not give developers ‘an average of 25′ setbacks’ instead of the 50-100′ wetland setbacks required of the properties next door. Gonzalez and environmental planner Scott Vurbeff said that the developers would not clean up the creek unless they were given smaller setbacks–even though there are federal grants and agencies that would clean up the creek with volunteers.

3. During the time that they have owned the property, they have been charged with violations and still have not sought to have the creek cleaned up for free by a conservancy or other group.

4. They have failed to demonstrate ANY benefit to the community. They have demonstrated that they are prepared to make it more dangerous for future residents and the families already living in the area. They don’t deserve any consideration for this dangerous project.

A 2011 email written by Roy Sapau to a council member identifies that the project is zoned for 8 units using midrange density calculations and applying the appropriate wetland setbacks and deducutions for slope that are outlined in the Municipal Code.

Applicants are asking for 16 units on site and will pay for a 17th with an in lieu fee. They are asking for 1 low income unit on the site but will be displacing the low income family who has lived there for 20 years who care for the horses and are valued and well-liked members of the Olivenhain community.

Now Roy Sapau is denying his previous calculations for a midrange density of 8 and claims that 16 onsite units is the correct number.

This project is a walled fire trap with a single egress road that is so narrow, the road engineer that SDR hired pointed out that if a fire truck were to enter the developement as it is presented now and a burning car were parked in one of the few, internal parking spaces, the firetruck could be stuck and the firefighters could be placed in jeopardy since there is no way for a firetruck to back up or turn around in this case.

As for the residents of this walled-complex, their planned fire escape is a trail that they would have to access on foot!

Thanks again for your comment,

Jared

Thank you again,

Jared

This line of the article is not factual and was taken from assertions made in Marco Gonzalez’s appeal–not City documents which define this project:

“Those opposed to the development don’t like that the developers’ plans include a state “high-density bonus” that lets them build 16 homes on the land, instead of no more than 12 units that would be allowed under city standards.”

The Updated General Plan pg. B-97, APN #2640102700 states that the Unit Capacity for this lot is 7. In an email to Maggie Houlihan dated 1/20/11, Project Manager Roy Sapau states,

“Midrange Density for thesubject property would be:

1.5 du/ac (zone RR-2) x 5.93 acres (NET) = 8.895= 8 LOTS(Rounded downper Encinitas Municipal Code)”

Since the GPU states they can have 7, and the planner in charge figured it at 8, and they are asking for 16 on site and will pay an in lieu fee for the 17th unit, this does not represent 4 more units, but a 120% increase over current zoning!

Every single tree on the property be cut down. This, plus the increased water run-off created by additional hardscape, seriously compromises the environment and the streets and properties downstream. The builder is asking for a wetland buffer zone that is half that imposed on other builders in the area. The developer has reported that the project will generate 182 additional vehicle trips per day onto Rancho Santa Fe. A traffic study done by SDR shows a significant impact to intersections that are already rated E or F (worst) by the City. The City has declined to conduct a traffic survey and continues to ignore traffic conditions on Rancho Santa Fe Road.

I urge the City Council to uphold the very prudent disapproval of the Tentative Map and Negative Declaration for this unsafe development and not give in to the bluster and threats of litigaton made by the developer’s attorney.

Bill Butler
for Save Desert Rose