FCPG approves permit change for North Coast Church Suggests more changes for Pacifica Estates

At its Dec. 21 meeting, the Fallbrook Community Planning Group (FCPG) voted to approve a request for a Major Use Permit to establish a religious assembly use in the 1300 block of S. Mission Road. In addition, the board also recommended that further investigation be done into access routes for the proposed Pacifica Estates in the 2200 block of South Mission Road before an approval could be issued for the subdivision.

North Coast Church, which has four meeting places, including the Bob Burton Center at Fallbrook Union High School, has requested that the usage permit for the existing single story, 25,525 square-foot building be changed from limited impact industrial and to religious.

According to FCPG chairman Jim Russell, the board did not have any objections to the proposals for the 2.32-acre property, but it did have a few concerns.

"We are confident that the county staff will handle [the concerns]," said Russell. "The first is parking – while they did meet minimum county requirements, they are not near enough. However, it would be hard to tell them anything when they meet the county parking standards."

Russell stated that the access road is essentially a long driveway that is shared with other businesses.

"The exit is on a pretty busy street, and we have suggested that they provide a right-in, right-out access, but did not make it a requirement," said Russell.

At the same meeting, developers for Pacifica Estates requested to subdivide their 17.3 acres into 25 lots for 21 dwelling units, two open space lots, and two home owner association common lots.

The FCPG voted unanimously to recommend denial of this project on Jan. 21, 2008, and the County Planning Commission voted 6-0 to continue the item on July 17, 2015.

According to Russell, the board denied the project because of two problems: massive amounts of grading and the access points for residents and emergency vehicles.

"The developer gave us a new grading plan, and it changed significantly," said Russell. "The Fallbrook community plan prohibits grading from unduly disrupting the natural terrain. They had soil banks that were 28-feet high, which I would say was unduly disrupting the terrain. I wouldn’t want a 28-foot bank of soil behind my house."

The board voted to accept that the grading plan was now in compliance, but still had a concern with the access points for the development. With the current access plan, southbound drivers would be required to make a U-turn from Mission Road to enter the development, and would need to U-turn in order to head out of south.

"We voted to recommend denial until they did something with the access," said Russell. "We suggested that they possibly use Morro Road for access, but since it is a private road, they would need permission from property owners on Morro Road. This access would empty onto Stage Coach Lane.”

"Another access point would be in Peppertree Park through Sterling Bridge," added Russell, who said a representative from Peppertree Park came to the meeting to propose this particular suggestion.

Regardless of whichever option they select, developers would first have to get permission from property owners and give them the opportunity to say yes or no, as up until now this option had been ignored as a possible access point.

"A subdivision with a right-in, right-out access is not unheard of; just north of the property is a small subdivision with that type of access. The county staff isn’t going to take back the proposal until they look at some sort of meeting with the property owners associations," said Russell. "If both groups say no, we don’t have much of an option but accept the access he proposed, but most of the planning group was unwilling to put the burden on folks until other options are at least explored."