Planning group endorses Stage Coach Lane pathway or trail

The desire for a pathway or trail along Stage Coach Lane now has the formal support of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group.

The planning group voted 14-0, Monday, Jan. 18, to approve sending a letter in support of the pathway or trail to San Diego County. Planning group member Eileen Delaney also chairs the Fallbrook Revitalization Committee's infrastructure subcommittee, so she abstained due to a potential conflict of interest.

The Fallbrook Revitalization Committee hosted a virtual meeting, Nov. 16, on the desire for a pathway or trail. During that meeting, Jeff Moneda, director of the county Department of Public Works, said that official support from the planning group would ensure that the project is a priority of the entire community rather than only a few individuals. Planning group member Kim Murphy, who chairs the housing subcommittee of the Fallbrook Revitalization Committee, composed the letter the planning group adopted.

"It has been needed for quite some time," Jack Wood, chair of the planning group, said. "This has been a section of street which has been extremely dangerous."

Fallbrook High School is off Stage Coach Lane. Potter Junior High School is on Reche Road just east of Stage Coach Lane. Fallbrook High School's cross-country team uses Stage Coach Lane for practice runs.

Pathways are within the right of way of a road. Trails are outside of the right of way. For the Stage Coach Lane pathway or trail to become a reality funding must be obtained and right of way must be secured.

"The objective is to do a feasibility study," Wood said.

The study will include cost, environmental impacts, and easement and right of way issues. The feasibility study would be followed by design, California Environmental Quality Act review, right of way acquisition if necessary and construction. Murphy expects the pathway or trail to be a five-year process.

Construction would occur in three phases. The first phase would be from Reche Road to Brooke Road, the second phase would cover Brooke Road to the Fallbrook Union High School District administrative offices, and the final phase would provide the pathway or trail between the district offices and South Mission Road.

Existing safety measures designated the area in front of Fallbrook High School to be the third priority.

"The area in front of the high school already has sidewalks and the sidewalks actually end at the district office," Murphy said. "Once you hit Brooke Road, there is very little space."

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