Fallbrook village zone classifications to be renamed

The County of San Diego has recognized that one-size-fits-all zoning is not appropriate for different unincorporated communities, and the Fallbrook Revitalization Plan approved in 2003 included zoning specific to the Fallbrook Village area and designated V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5.

Fallbrook was the first community in San Diego County to have village-specific zoning, and upcoming village plans for Alpine and Ramona will force a change of names for the Fallbrook zones.

“All we’re doing is changing the name,” said county Department of Planning and Development Services planning manager Joe Farace.

Because the change in name is linked to the approval of the new Alpine and Ramona zoning, the full action itself may not be as uncontested. On June 13, the county’s Planning Commission voted 6-0, with Adam Day absent, to recommend the Alpine and Ramona village designations while sending one Ramona proposal for a commercial and civic area around a lake back to the review process. The Planning Commission only makes recommendations on zoning changes and San Diego County Board of Supervisors approval is needed to make the rezoning official. The supervisors are expected to hear the package in late July.

The Fallbrook village zoning and its associated regulations in Fallbrook’s business district are intended to promote and preserve the village character, create a pedestrian-friendly environment for residents and visitors, and encourage the growth of Fallbrook’s art industry. Uses which were in effect prior to the 2003 adoption of the Fallbrook village zoning are allowed to continue in those locations.

The V1 zoning classification for Fallbrook would be changed to FB-V1. Fallbrook’s Village 1 zone is intended to encourage primarily retail businesses fronting a pedestrian-oriented street. The regulations allow residential dwelling as a secondary use.

The Village 2 zone whose classification name would be changed from V2 to FB-V2 is intended to serve as a buffer between the retail-oriented V1 zone and the more industrial V3 zone. In addition to the uses allowed in the Village 1 area, the Village 2 area also allows more intensive civic and automotive service uses, and residences are allowed as a co-principal use subject to limitations.

The zoning classification for the Village 3 area would be changed from V3 to FB-V3. That area is intended to provide opportunities for clean industry and manufacturing, including art creation. All uses allowed under V1 and V2 zoning are also permissible in the area with V3 zoning, which also allows manufacturing and other general industrial uses if the activity is indoors and meets noise and other limitations.

The V3 zoning also allows service-oriented civic and commercial uses which are more intense than those allowed in the Village 1 and Village 2 areas. Residential use in the Village 3 area is allowed if it can be shown to be compatible with the adjacent commercial and industrial uses.

The zoning for the Village 4 which would be renamed from V4 to FB-V4 is similar to the V1 zoning but allows for more automotive-oriented uses and a flexible front yard setback.

The intent of the Village 5 area, whose zoning is slated to change from V5 to FB-V5, is principal and dominant administrative office and professional services use. Residential uses are allowed, and development shall have a scale and appearance compatible and complementary to adjacent residential uses. Uses which generate high volumes of vehicular traffic are prohibited.

Some wording in the ordinance addressing “village regulations” would be revised to note specific Fallbrook village regulations while other wording would cover village regulations for all unincorporated communities with village-specific zoning.