PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
The Coast News
INLAND EDITION
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 3, N0. 3
FEB. 10, 2017
Community activists post a sign on Oro Avo Drive off of Buena Vista Creek Road alerting residents to a public hearing on the proposed Country Estates development project. The developer, Joseph Jaoudi, is appealing a denial from the county’s planning commission on receiving a time extension on the project’s tentative map. Photo by Tony Cagala
Baseball is back Cal State San Marcos Cougar Griffin Teisher of Encinitas’ La Costa Canyon High School, slides safely back to first base avoiding a throw to first last weekend during the home opener of the 2017 season against San Diego Christian. See the full story on page 16. Photo by Pat Cubel
Escondido considers new BMX park By Steve Puterski
ESCONDIDO — The City Council is ramping up its efforts to inject more activities for the city’s youth. Last week, the council took a report from City Manager Graham Mitchell and Public Works Analyst Jeff Wyner on the possibility of building a BMX bicycle park in the city. Mitchell said the report was based on follow-up from the City Council Action Plan, which directed staff to research various projects for youths. The council will host its next CCAP Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Room at City Hall. Mitchell, meanwhile, said staff visited numerous BMX tracks in San Diego and Riverside counties, including the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Mitchell said the training center gave staff an idea of what sort of BMX to construct. He said several other facilities incorporate a main track and a “pump track,” which acts as a warm-up for events and allows for other riders to hone their skills should a competition be held there. Staff was approved for a request for proposal, which gives them the authority to begin discussions with private operators to assess the size and scope of the project. The city will not pay for the track, but instead intends to work with a private entity that would cover construction costs and operations, although several city councilors said they prefer an “open” track so anyone can enjoy the
Vista developer plans appeal for housing project Date for the appeal hearing hasn’t yet been announced By Tony Cagala
The Escondido City Council and city staff are researching possible locations and details for a BMX track to provide more activities for the city’s youth. Courtesy photo
facility, as opposed to a sort of membership. “We will identify an operator the city wants to work with,” Mitchell said, “that has the best interest of the community at heart.” Councilman John Masson, who stumped for the creation of skate spots and parks earlier this year, also championed the project, noting, in addition to his skateboarding days as a youth, he also participated in BMX. He said the BMX project, like the skate parks, gives Escondido’s youth another outlet and a safe area to enjoy their passion.
“BMX in Escondido would be a great thing,” Masson said. “I am as excited about this as I am about skateboarding, because I used to BMX.” Another staunch supporter, Councilman Mike Morasco, said the facility could capitalize on the city and county’s large BMX population. They noted San Diego resident Alise Post, who won silver in the BMX women’s division, during the 2016 Olympic Games. Morasco’s vision, though, is to land state, regional and national competitions by working with an operator with TURN TO BMX ON 21
VISTA — A developer’s longtime housing project is expected to come back in front of county supervisors again. Joseph Jaoudi is appealing a ruling made last year by the San Diego County Planning Commission to deny him a time extension on the tentative map for his housing project called the Country Estates. Jaoudi filed an appeal to the County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 10, 2016, five days after the commission’s denial. He’s asking the board to overturn the planning commission’s ruling and grant a time extension on the project’s tentative map. A date for the appeal hearing, however, has yet to be announced. The filed appeal document shows that Jaoudi “disagrees with the ratio-
nale of the Planning Director for denying the application for a Tentative Map Time Extension.” If developed, the project would subdivide 77.9 acres on Deeb Drive into 55 residential lots ranging in size from 0.5 acre to 1.6 acres, and provide three open space lots. It has drawn criticism from residents in the area who see the project as not being a “fit for the community,” and one that would significantly impact traffic along Deer Springs Road, which many commuters already use as a cut through to avoid driving on state Route 78. The project has been in the works for close to 30 years, being first proposed in September of 1987. In 2005, the Board of Supervisors approved the project’s tentative map. Following the approval, the project had received more time extensions, bringing the map’s expiration date up to May 23, 2016. Residents, at the planning commission hearing, said a time extension shouldn’t be given, claiming the 2005-approved TURN TO APPEAL ON 21
Mariachi Estrellas de Chula Vista Concert Saturday, March 17th, 2017
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (doors open at 5) V y Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Avenue • Oceanside, CA 92058
ADVANCED TICKET SALES:
Concert Seating only $ 00
Manny Astroga 760-681-2576 Angie Magaña 760-757-6276 Ida Acuña 760-717-3309 Jerry Alaniz 760-583-3870 Sponsored by: American GI Forum Education of Oceanside Scholarship Fundraiser - Donations Accepted
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dinner included!