Rainbow CPG to update community plan

The Rainbow Community Planning Group will be working on an update of the Rainbow Community Plan.

Lynne Malinowski, who chairs the planning group’s Architectural Subcommittee, addressed the desire for an update at the planning group’s Feb. 17 meeting.

“I’ve decided to revisit the Rainbow Community Plan,” Malinowski said. “I think it’s crucial to understand it.”

The Rainbow Community Plan was developed in 2009 and incorporated into the county’s general plan update adopted by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in August 2011. The community plan showed that implementation should be monitored on a periodic basis and reviewed at least annually so that it can be updated when the board of supervisors acts on recommendations from county staff to update the general plan and the associated community plans.

“To my knowledge no changes have been before the group in the last 10 years,” Malinowski said.

Malinowski said that growth in Rainbow has been restricted by high water tables and the lack of sewer service. According to information provided by the San Diego Association of Governments, in 2010 Rainbow had a population of 1,933 with 695 dwelling units.

The Rainbow Community Plan addresses land use including density, traffic circulation and preservation of open space.

“We don’t really talk about architecture per se,” planning group chair Paul Georgantas said.

Georgantas said that many Rainbow homes have an early 20th century design.

“We really want to maintain that kind of setting,” he said. “We would like to maintain that early 20th century look.”

If a property doesn’t have a design review or other architectural designator structures which don't meet prevailing community architectural standards, the construction of structures cannot be restricted, but Georgantas said that architecture could be a factor in projects where a discretionary permit is involved.

“We would look favorably upon plans that would showcase it,” he said.

Some modifications to the exterior of structures built in the style of the early 20th century may be needed for fire safety purposes.

“I think the things we put in place today will manifest itself in the future,” Georgantas said.

Once actual words are proposed for a community plan update, the planning group would consider a vote for a recommendation.

“We want to represent the wishes of everybody who is here in Rainbow,” Georgantas said.

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