Pala Gateway Project concerns FCPG

Residents of the community and Fallbrook Community Planning Group (FCPG) board members voiced their concerns regarding plans presented for the Pala Band of Luiseno Indians’ property located along Interstate 15 at the group’s regular meeting June 20.

Representatives from the Pala tribe presented plans for the Pala Gateway Project, 90.53 acres of land located east of I-15 and south of SR76, which would include a cultural center, cultural village complex, trail, and associated facilities. In addition, the tribe plans to petition the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to transition the property from being classified as a part of San Diego County to tribal land.

By securing a proposed trust acquisition, the Indian tribe would no longer have to pay county taxes or be regulated by local governing bodies, as the property would become part of their sovereign nation.

According to Teresa Brownyard, tribal liason for the county, the BIA issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI), which determined that the proposed acquisition would not result in significant effects to the quality of the surrounding community.

The FONSI is a finding on environmental effects, not a decision to proceed with an action, thus it cannot be appealed.

“While we support the project, which we understand to be important for the tribe, there are significant concerns,” said Brownyard. “The parcels are located in a flood plain, and we are concerned with the proposed civic and commercial uses the tribe may have.”

Brownyard stated that as part of the acquisition, the tribe could construct projects that are not consistent with area zoning, thus rendering an impact on the local community.

“They could build things that are not along the lines of what are approved,” said Brownyard. “There is also a concern of traffic and circulation. The area is accessed through Pankey Road, which is a county-maintained road. We feel the Pala band should pay a transportation impact fee.”

Brownyard also stated that the county currently receives approximately $90,000 in taxes on the undeveloped property, but the loss of tax revenue would be significantly greater.

“The taxes are currently based on vacant property, but the future assessed value is huge,” she said. “[The lack of tax revenue] could have an impact on the library, local parks, school districts, water districts, and the healthcare district. There would be no new taxes to send funding to these districts.”

Currently, 37 properties owned by various bands of Native Americans are in the process of going through a FONSI. It is believed that the cumulative impact of the loss of the properties’ tax revenue would be significant to the county.

“The current application, in combination with other applications, has significant cumulative impacts on the county that should be analyzed as part of any BIA application that proposes to acquire land currently under the jurisdiction of the county,” said Sarah Aghassi, deputy chief administrative officer with the county in a letter to Amy Dutschke, a representative to the BIA.

“You could see the domino effect this could have,” said Eileen Delaney, director of FCPG’s Design Review Board, who also stated the FCPG had “nothing opposed to the cultural aspects” of the project.

“We have nothing but respect for their culture, but the consequence of sovereign land would have negative consequences for the county and local citizens,” said Delaney. “By making this property sovereign, citizens would lose input on what’s being put on this land. They could put up a huge, Las Vegas-style sign.”

Members of the planning group stated that while the tribe has donated money to the surrounding community, the amount has not been significant enough to allow for this loss of revenue.

“The tribe likes to say that it is a good neighbor to the community,” said Delaney. “While they have donated money to the library and Boys and Girls Club, there have not been significant contributions made in the past years. This plan that they have is not being a good neighbor, nor is it protecting citizens.”

Delaney also stated that various properties had been offered to the tribe that were closer to the reservation, but were not purchased.

“The land the dump is on was offered to the tribe, but they chose to buy this property at a good, visible location,” she explained. “They could build whatever they want, which could be extremely negative for citizens.”

Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, stated that only 30 acres of the property, which was purchased approximately four years ago, are usable.

“This property is meant to be our gateway into the valley. We are planning to keep the trees,” said Smith. “We have no plans of putting up large signs or billboards, which were brought up in the meeting. We are only going to have signs that give information.”

Smith stated that the property is just one of the few properties the tribe is currently putting through the FONSI process.

“People don’t always like what we are doing, and have comments regarding our projects,” said Smith. “They have their opinions and that is fine. We believe that overall, the meeting went well, and we are happy that at least we got the opportunity to make the presentation.”

Smith stated that he “optimistically” hopes to see the transition end within a year.