Planning group votes in officers, hears plan for sidewalk repair, tree replacement on Main Avenue

The Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted in its 2020 officers and discussed items including repairs in downtown Fallbrook at its Jan. 20 meeting.

The meeting was opened with a moment of silence for Planning Group Chairman Jim Russell, who died Jan. 17.

Planning group members unanimously voted to make Jack Wood the group’s chairman for 2020. Group members also unanimously elected Eileen Delaney as first vice chair, Roy Moosa as second vice chair and Jerry Kalman as secretary.

Michael Aguilar from the San Diego County Department of Public Works was at the meeting to get community input on tree replacement and sidewalk repair along Main Avenue.

He said construction on the sidewalks was expected to start in April, and replacement of three trees was planned to take place about a month after construction ends.

Group members asked the project to be delayed until after the Fallbrook Avocado Festival, April 19, and also to avoid working Friday afternoons, as that’s the time period for a proposed farmers market beginning in May, as well as during other events over the summer.

Aguilar told the planning group that while that could draw out the project, workers could replace sidewalks in other areas of Fallbrook Fridays.

The planning group voted unanimously to approve the project as presented, with the request that the county avoid the specified days.

The group also approved a resubmitted major use permit request for the Fallbrook Hacienda wedding venue.

A permit was approved in 2015 to turn existing buildings at 4103 Mission Road into a wedding venue and make improvements, but the project was delayed to include a subdivision map for the property.

The plan will add a winter hall, overnight rooms and a winery.

The group voted to approve two murals at the Fallbrook School of the Arts on Alvarado Street.

One mural replaces one on an exterior door, which had to be removed when the door was repaired. The other, a mural of a tree with glass leaves, will face south on Alvarado Street and will recognize school donors.

That proposal was also passed unanimously, with the request that the mural colors be softened.

Will Fritz can be reached by email at [email protected].