Revised tentative map for Meadowood approved

A revised tentative parcel map for Pardee Homes’ Meadowood development has been approved.

The revision was approved by San Diego County Department of Planning and Development Services director Mark Wardlaw July 21, and placed on the July 31 planning commission agenda to determine whether any member of the planning commission or the public desired a hearing. When no hearing was requested Wardlaw’s decision became effective. The revision does not change the map itself but alters conditions regarding the timing of off-site road improvements.

In January 2012, the county Board of Supervisors approved the 384-acre Meadowood development. The original approved map included 397 single-family homes, 447 multi-family dwelling units, 13 acres for an elementary school which will be built by the Bonsall Unified School District, four acres of park land, 128 acres of biological open space, 47 acres of agricultural open space, 5.9 miles of trails and a wastewater treatment plant. Avoiding impacts to sensitive environmental resources, a public park was relocated, and the residential component is now expected to have 473 single-family and 352 multi-family homes while the public park size has increased to 9.1 acres with the trail length reduced to 5.6 miles.

The conditions of approval included off-site improvements to Pankey Road, Pankey Place and Pala Mesa Drive. Pankey Road between state Route 76 and Pankey Place will be improved to a graded width of 60 feet and a paved width of 40 feet, and the widening will also allow for a left turn pocket for southbound Pankey Road motorists who will be turning onto eastbound State Route 76. The Pankey Road improvements will also include a roadway bridge and stabilized embankments for the Horse Ranch Creek crossing.

Pankey Place will be improved between its intersection with Horse Ranch Creek Road to a cul-de-sac approximately 150 feet east of the intersection of Pankey Place and Pankey Road. The road will be improved to a graded width of 60 feet and a paved width of 40 feet, and a trail 10 feet in width between Horse Ranch Creek Road and the property boundary will also be constructed. The widening of Pankey Place will also provide dual left turn lanes onto northbound Horse Ranch Creek Road and a separate right turn lane onto southbound Horse Ranch Creek Road. A raised median will extend from Horse Ranch Creek Road to a left turn lane onto a public park access road.

Pala Mesa Drive will be improved from the intersection of Pankey Road and Pankey Place to Old Highway 395. Pala Mesa Drive will meet light collector public road standards and will have an interim graded width of 40 feet with 28 feet of pavement and pathways on each side at least 5 feet wide. The widening will also accommodate a left turn lane for motorists traveling from Pala Mesa Drive onto Old Highway 395.

Under the changed conditions the off-site improvements will be completed before the completion of 655 of the dwelling units. The final map will include an emergency access agreement which satisfies both PDS and the North County Fire Protection District.

The North County Fire Protection District accepted the changes in the timing conditions. On July 20, the Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted 12-0, with two members absent and one vacant seat, to recommend approval of the revised tentative map and its conditions.

A tentative parcel map becomes a final map after all conditions of the tentative map, other than those for which permits cannot be issued until a final map is recorded, are fulfilled. The tentative map for Meadowood currently has an expiration date of July 7, 2021.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].