Rainbow MWD approves SDG&E easement use agreement for Bonsall Oaks

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

A Rainbow Municipal Water District easement for the planned Bonsall Oaks development will be shared with San Diego Gas & Electric, although a joint use agreement rather than a formal shared easement will likely be the solution.

A 5-0 Rainbow board vote June 27 authorized Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy and the district’s general counsel to continue to negotiate with SDG&E and with Bonsall Oaks, LLC, on the joint use agreement with SDG&E. Both Rainbow and SDG&E will have mutual access rights and no encumbrances.

“That’s a standard joint use agreement,” Kennedy said.

Bonsall Oaks will be constructed in phases. Phase 1 consists of a winery, a tasting room and a bed and breakfast off of Oak Bridge Drive. The tasting room and bed and breakfast will be across Gopher Canyon Road from the entrance to the Vista Valley Country Club. Phase 2 will include 59 residential lots, Phase 3 will provide 57 residential lots, Phase 4 will build 41 residential lots and Phase 5 will construct seven custom homes.

Rainbow prefers to have water and sewer facilities within public right-of-way, and Rainbow has been granted easement rights on a private street. Because Rainbow owns prior rights to the easement, no other utility can be constructed within the roadway without the district’s permission.

San Diego Gas & Electric has asked for access to a portion of Rainbow’s easement to allow for the construction, operation and maintenance of SDG&E electrical and communication facilities in, over, under and across the Rainbow easement area. Rainbow, SDG&E and Bonsall Oaks, LLC, addressed the logistics of a shared easement, and all parties agreed that a joint use agreement would be more suitable.