PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
The Coast News
INLAND EDITION
VOL. 2, N0. 10
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
MAY 8, 2015
Palomar Station project is filling up The apartment community is one of several transit-oriented developments underway in North County By Aaron Burgin
Since 2012, the Escondido Country Club has fallen into disrepair and disputes have arisen between the city, residents and the developer Michael Schlesinger. File photo by Ellen Wright
270-home plan submitted for Country Club By Ellen Wright
ESCONDIDO — Staff from Stuck in the Rough, LLC, the owner of the defunct Escondido Country Club, submitted plans to the city Wednesday night for a 270-home plan on the site. Ali Shapouri, whose civil engineering firm was hired for the plan, applied on behalf of Stuck in the Rough. The city’s planning ordinance allows for up to 600 homes on the 109.3-acre site, although that number seems unlikely after the issues Michael Schlesinger, owner of Stuck in the Rough, went through when trying to build the original development in 2012.
Shapouri said Schlesinger plans to work with the surrounding communities on the project and submitted the plans for the number of homes to bring certainty to the amount of homes he plans to build. “There’s been considerable speculation about how many homes are being planned, given the maximum number of lots allowed under the current General Plan designation for this site,” Shapouri said. “Hopefully, this plan settles that issue.” The lot sizes will range from 7,000 to 16,000 square feet and there will be 31 acres of open space. According to the release by Stuck in the Rough, the proposed plan will be developed in five phases
over a few years, to minimize impacts of construction to the surrounding residents. Amenities will include a pool, a clubhouse, steam rooms, a playground, trails, and a racquetball and tennis court. Shapouri said they’re considering putting in daycare. Homeowner’s association fees will pay for the amenities and will be intended for the residents but Shapouri said they’re open to allowing public memberships, based on public interest. Workshops will be held to get the public’s input and Shapouri said he TURN TO COUNTRY CLUB ON 18
Veteran Escondido cop pens debut crime novel By Ellen Wright
ESCONDIDO — After spending 25 years as a police officer, Escondido Detective Lt. Neal Griffin has got some stories to tell. It’s his natural ability as a storyteller that drove him to write his first fictional crime novel, “Benefit of the Doubt” which hits stores May 12. “Naturally, when you become a cop, you also at some point become a storyteller because people insist on hearing what you do,” Griffin said. The plot takes place in a fictional Wisconsin town and follows both a convicted felon bent on revenge and a decommissioned Oakland police officer who is lampooned by the media after being caught on camera Escondido Police Lt. Neal Griffin is releasing his first fictional crime novel, set in an imaginary Wisconsin town. Courtesy photo abusing his power.
The subject matter touches on a national hotspot of contention, with police malfeasance making headlines in cities throughout the nation. Griffin said the timing is purely coincidental and he came up with the idea for his book four or five years ago before body cameras were being used or discussed. He recognizes his protagonist police officer, Ben Sawyer, in many of the police brutality incidents making national headlines. “In the last six months, I’ve seen the Ben Sawyer scenario play out half a dozen times where, you’re caught on camera and you’re doing something that’s inexcusable and you become the new poster boy TURN TO NOVEL ON 18
SAN MARCOS — For years, North County officials have envisioned the stops along its regional rail line, the Sprinter, as bustling centers of commerce and living, putting people closer to public transportation and giving them incentive to use their cars a bit less. Some call it “smart growth.” Others call it “transit-oriented development.” In San Marcos, that vision has become a reality across the street from Palomar College, where the long-awaited Palomar Station apartments are filling up in earnest after construction completed in December. The 370-unit mixeduse project, with luxury apartments sitting atop retail space, was originally approved in 2007, but was delayed when the real-estate market hit rock bottom during the Great Recession. Construction finally began in 2013. To date, 273 of the 370 units are occupied, repre-
sentatives of the developer, Lyon Communities, wrote in an email on Wednesday. The Newport Beachbased company started renting units last May, when the first 60 units were completed, but stepped up leasing following the completion of the project late last year. “The reception has been very positive,” said Frank Suryan, chairman of Lyon Communities. “Palomar station is the quintessential new apartment community in San Marcos. It’s perfect for renters looking for upscale living with luxury resort-style amenities all in a convenient location.” In addition to the ideal location, company representatives said that the design was inspired by the adjacent station. “The location was certainly a key factor… the easy access to the freeway, rail and bus transit ensures that our residents just minutes away from employment, school (CSU TURN TO PALOMAR STATION ON 18
Escondido applies for $25M dam improvement loan By Ellen Wright
ESCONDIDO — The City Council approved the application of a $25 million state loan for the Wohlford Dam improvements Wednesday night. Once city staff applies for the loan, they’ll need to come back before the council to get approval to accept the loan. The loan comes from a state revolving fund and will have an interest rate of 1.6 percent. Over 20 years, the loan will cost the city $4.4 million in interest. The design of a new dam will be done in June. In 2010, the water level of the lake was lowered by half because a dam assessment showed that the upper portion of the dam wasn’t earthquake proof and could lead to catastrophic flooding of the city. The lower portion of the dam now would hold the amount of water in the dam, should an earthquake hit. The cost of the design and construction of the dam replacement is
estimated between $38.5 million and $43.5 million. In 2010, the cost was estimated at $30 million. The increase is due to uncertainty in what they’ll excavate once construction goes underway. If there isn’t sufficiently sound bedrock to build on, further excavation will be needed. Director of Utilities Christopher McKinney said the new dam would restore the capacity lost after the water level was lowered in 2010. McKinney said he will return to council May 20 to request approval of the design contract amendment, which is necessary to address concerns from the Department of Safety of Dams and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The city contracted with Black and Veatch to design the dam. The city received a state grant from the Department of Water Resources that will fund half of the project although it came with stipTURN TO LOAN ON 18