FPUD opts against position on Sandia Creek Drive gate

The Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) owns property along the privately-maintained portion of Sandia Creek Drive and thus has the right to vote on whether to place a gate across that street.

FPUD's board discussed the matter March 28. The official motion to support the gate failed with Don McDougal in favor and Milt Davies, Al Gebhart, Bert Hayden, and Charley Wolk opposed.

“They decided against supporting the request,” said FPUD general manager Brian Brady. “They weren't taking an opposed position. They were taking no position.”

The Sandia Creek Road Committee maintains two miles of Sandia Creek Drive, which is a private road from the north end of the county-maintained portion of the street to the Riverside County border. Sandia Creek Drive has been discovered by the public as a shortcut between Fallbrook and Temecula and the increased traffic in recent years has led to the deterioration of the road, which is not only a safety hazard for residents, but also a lawsuit risk if a non-resident is injured or killed while traveling on the private road.

The Sandia Creek Road Committee is requesting approval for a gate from the property owners with access to the private road. “They were asking the board to support them building a gate across,” said Brady.

The North County Fire Protection District (NCFPD) sent a representative to the FPUD meeting, although NCFPD has not taken an official position and will not be asked to support the gate since the fire district does not own property along the private road.

“Our main concern is that if a gate is built, the utilities and the fire authority have devices to get through the gate in order to provide service,” Brady said.

The road committee will need support from a majority of property owners rather than 100 percent consent to install the gate.

“By the Fallbrook board not taking a position, it didn't block in any way what the road committee is attempting to do,” said Brady.