• Planning Commission Meeting March 2017

The meeting started with the swearing in of new planning commissioner Michele Thomas, appointed last year by then new councilmember Dustin Nigg. The oath was administered by city clerk, Debbie Lee.


Surprisingly there were no public comments. I say surprisingly because over at the social media site called nextdoor.com there was a lot of excitement about a proposed project called Camelia Townhouse Project, 163 townhouses on the border of Wildomar and Murrieta on the east side of Palomar. 

There will be a community workshop at 6pm, Monday March 27th, at Sycamore Academy if people want to hear about it in the early stages.

2.1 Bundy Canyon Resort Apartment Project
This came to the planning commission in April of 2016, here's a blog link to it. 

The take away from this item is that the developer wants to put in 140 apartment units tucked away, mostly out of sight, off of Bundy Canyon. The site is 28.8 acres, and according to Larry Markham, 17 of those acres will be "open space". 

Ten of those acres were promised to be left natural, and they aren't removing any of the existing oak trees. 

There was some wrangling over the looks of the apartments, and the carports (whether or not to have solar on them). It sure sounded like the developers wanted the solar, but commissioner John Lloyd thought they weren't too attractive. 

Which brought the head honcho, Richard Darling, to the mic. Obviously a businessman that just wants to get his project moving forward as he said, "We can go back to shingles (on the carports), I'm not tied into solar. [...] Truth of the matter is, whatever the commission wants to do, I'm ok with."

Kenny Mayes brought up an interesting point, one that I thought had been cleared up last year: the Measure Z tax and multi unit projects like this.

A quick refresher, Measure Z is a PARCEL tax, and everyone in Wildomar with a parcel, pays $28 per year towards park maintenance. 

Last year it was suggested that some projects were only paying $28 total, even though there were hundreds of units involved.  Then it was explained by Assistant City Manager Dan York, that they do pay their park tax, just collected differently.

Link to November 2016 Blog where this came up

As it turns out, that only applies to condos for sale, not apartments that are rented out. 

Why is that?

I remember a conversation with a council member last year and it was explained to me. There is a difference between a parcel tax and other such taxes. At the time, the prevailing opinions were for a parcel tax, nothing that might smell like a Mello-Roos tax, and that's why we have what we have.

Just know that this project, with 140 units, will be paying $28 per year towards parks, IN TOTAL. Let's do the math...

If you own a home in Wildomar, you'll be chipping in the same amount of money to the Measure Z fund as ALL 140 families in the "RESORT" apartments slated for Bundy Canyon.

I'm guessing that the parks could use the extra money over that ten year time frame (which happens to repeat every ten years). Make no mistake about it, that resort apartment complex, will be charging top dollar to live there.

Based on current rates, there won't be a single unit in there that goes for less than $1500 (more like $1800 to $2200), but let's pretend that they only rent those places for $1000 a month. (STOP LAUGHING!!!) 

This should be looked at by the Wildomar City Council that needs every dollar it can get. This is the case with all the apartments in town. 

below is a video link to the entire agenda item

2.2 Sign Ordinance
This was a follow up to a request by the city council to have uniform signage at construction sites, and when such signage should be displayed, alerting the public to any public hearings about it.

This is a sample of what you'll be seeing in front of future developments.

Such signs will serve as a notification for public hearings, at least two weeks before meetings in question.

3.1 Capital Improvement Programs
This was by far the most relevant part of the meeting for the average Wildomartino. This item covered the various major projects (road improvements) in the city.

Key notes included:
• Sedco sidewalk project
• Almond St sidewalk project
• Bundy Canyon road improvements
• Grand Avenue bike lanes and multi use trails 
• Malaga Road/Mission Trail park project

The first 10 minutes of the video are packed with a lot of good information. If the projects mentioned above are important to you, give it a listen. 



Public Comments
• Kenny Mayes (at the 25:10 mark of the video) discussed wheel chair access to both Windsong Park and weekend access to the cemetery. 

3.3 Election of New Planning Commissioner Officers
The end result is that Stan Smith is taking another term as Chairman, and John Lloyd will be taking on the Vice Chair position.

What I don't get is that John Lloyd only got a vote of 4-1 in the process. It's not as if anyone else wanted the position, but outgoing Chair Veronica Langworthy chose to thumbs down the Lloyd nomination anyway, after she had nominated both of the new commissioners in attempts to block Lloyd from the position. 

I just find such nay votes to snag at the fabric of what needs to be a cohesive group. What could possibly have been the point in doing that? 

Obviously nothing that had to do with John Lloyd's time as a commissioner or his ability to do the job. C'est la vie.

video link below

The last bit of news was that the Westpark Promenade project was sued on January 16th, the last day to file, but it has already been settled out of court.

It was from the awkwardly named Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance, but they sure are efficient at settling lawsuits. I wonder if any money was involved?

Link to December Blog with specifics about the project

The Nova Homes project, which is 77 condos on the east side of George St, was sued this week. (This is where the whole Measure Z loophole started... for me anyway.)  My guess is that it will be settled too... after a fist full of greenbacks change hands that is.

Link to past Planning Commission blog mentioning Nova Homes

Link to past City Council blog mentioning Nova Homes

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"Poor Mr. Baxter. Too ambitious to be honest, and too timid to be crooked."
– from CBSRMT "The Head of a Pin" 1981

Wildomar Rap tip of the day:
Don't get your tips from local blogs.

• City Council Meeting January 2017

The meeting opened with the ceremonial Passing of the Gavel from 2016 Mayor Bridgette Moore to 2017 Mayor Tim Walker. Followed up by a brief presentation to the 2016 mayor. (Both in the video below)

Next was a fitting moment of silence to honor Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit's father who passed away in December.

Presentations
• Library update: The librarian mentioned the teen book club, the knitting and crochet club and the Friends of the Library having meetings this month.

• Fire Department update: Busy month of December as they participated in several community events, and going on 230 calls. Of which 75% were medical related, with a total of 54% being handled by station 61.

Public Comments (on non agenda items)
• Ken Mayes talked about the pitfalls of installing a water fountain at the dog park.
• Monty Jordan, interim director of Animal Friends of the Valleys, wanted to put a face with the name and encouraged people to come visit the shelter and "welcomes questions anytime."
• Miss Miller pronounced Councilmember Benoit's name "Ben-note". I couldn't tell if she was honoring his father or slamming him with her comments involving him. She lost me when she blamed last year's gas leak in Porter Ranch for all the rain this year and the freezing temps in the midwest and eastern parts of the USA, and Europe. 

All this time I had been thinking that rain in the rainy season was normal, and that freezing temps were just part of Winter. 

Consent Calendar
This is comprised of items that generally don't need to be discussed, though a council member or member of the public can "pull an item" for discussion or comment.

While Kenny Mayes was discussing his concerns that the rules of engagement for pulling an item weren't clear enough, there was an interruption (in the form of loud whispers at the city clerk's desk, being handled by Deputy City Clerk Janet Morales).

This interruption lasted nearly 90 seconds. Tell me Sir Lame-a-lot, why is it that the rules of decorum don't apply to you? Why do you insist on making a spectacle of yourself instead of following the rules set out for everyone else?

Lo and behold it was Gerard Ste. Marie making a repeat performance of his August 11th interruption.

Link to August 2017 blog that mentions it

 We get it, you know you have no actual basis for your deeds and your only other option is to gum up the works any way you can. Nice work if you can get it... I guess.

It's the actions of guys like this that have driven the prices of houses into the stratosphere, making it next to impossible for the young generation to ever realistically purchase a home of their own in California.


2.1 Nova Homes Residential Project

The developer wants to build 77 condos that range from 1700sf to 3100sf on 11.25 acres.

A few more details of the project can be found in the blog covering the October Planning Commission meeting. 

Link here

The project is located between George and Iodine Springs

about 250 yards north of Clinton Keith.

These are condos, not apartments, which is something our area can use. 

Funny thing, a letter came five months after the close of the public review period —by the same guy that interrupted tonight's meeting. Full of the same horse hockey that is always put forth by that contingent. 

Public Comments
• Miss Miller came out against this project (stunner, right?). She mentioned burring owls and snakes that she's seen slither from one hole to another hole across the street (that is one charmed life she leads). She left off with "Plant hemp, not buildings."

Due to the last minute letter, this item was continued to the February 8th meeting.

2.2 McVicar Residential Project
This project calls for 48 lots on 19.2 acres. It even came with the approval of a nearby resident that usually has little good to say about anything.

In the deal, the developer will be improving Palomar with curb, gutter and sidewalk even where his project doesn't touch (from the intersection north past Plow Boys).

That didn't stop Miss Miller from babbling on for more than her three minutes until Mayor Tim Walker had to invite her to leave the podium.

This passed 5-0

2.4 Urgency Ordinance Extending a Temporary Moratorium Pertaining to Private Marijuana Cultivation and Non-medical Marijuana Facilities

The long and the short of this is that the city council will take the next 10 months and 15 days coming up with how the city will deal with retail marijuana shops. 

There is no rush since the state has already made it crystal clear that they won't be issuing such licenses themselves until 2018.  

You can be for or against the idea of recreational pot shops in town, but that has no bearing on this agenda item. It makes sense to measure twice and cut once on such a weighty issue as this.

If this issue is important to you, then you need to be signed up for the city email blasts. There will be many workshops, and other meetings, where this will be discussed, and everyone's input is welcome and encouraged.

Public Comments
• Kenny Mayes thought that there was no reason to delay since "hundreds of other cities, with the help of their citizens, are already passing regulations". 

"Hundreds"? There are 482 incorporated cities in Cali, so I guess that's possibly a real number. But that statement would suggest more than 50% of the cities, which is no way accurate. 

• Miss Miller almost came unglued as she nearly shouted "Ten months? It's going to take you ten months to figure this out?"

She then suggested that the council might have connections with the pharmaceutical companies, and showed some worry that big pharma (my phrasing) might reduce the strength of weed making people need to buy twice as much. 

This is where I'll insert the video of her 4 complete turns at the lectern. It's 12 inglorious minutes, but hey, she has her fans. If she wanted to, she could be a YouTube star with followers all over the world.

Below is a video link to Item 2.4 in its entirety. 
Oddly enough, it's more than three minutes shorter than the Miss Miller video, and three of those are from her.

In it you'll hear the city attorney lay out the point of the ordinance, the public comments, and the council discussion — including the "homework" that Councilmember Nigg said he did.

3.2 Master Drainage Plan
This was mostly a non item in my view. It was about paying the contractor that finished the Lateral C-1 project on Palomar. Thing is, the contractor really misrepresented the city according to resident Tom Gavaghan. 

I liked the council's concern for what this resident went through. 

After the meeting, several staffers met with him looking to make this right... let's hope that happens quickly.

Watch the video to hear how a construction company, that pulled a check from Wildomar, disrespected a local family.

3.3 2017 Special Events Calendar
This should have gone through without any dissent, but Kenny Mayes spoke out on the injustice (my word) of the "same old events" being offered. (could he have been talking about the egg hunt, 5ks, movies, concerts, trunk or treat, and breakfast with Santa?) 

He wants to see park events aimed at seniors and teens.

Hey, I agree with trying to get something for seniors on the books, but if you ever go to a park event you'll see that there are plenty of "seniors" there. Often with their grand kids.

Just like people don't read city council agendas while buying stamps at the post office, more often than not people that are advanced in years have no interest in park events. 

Then again, if there was a shuffleboard or bocce ball court at the park, maybe they'd come from miles around. 

Is there a senior citizen version of an Eagle Scout Project? 

If so, I know someone that should head a team of seasoned citizens in building such a thing. I'm guessing that the city would warmly embrace such an idea.

First look at the 2017 special events calendar.

•          •          •

Take time for all things: great
haste makes great waste.

— Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

Wildomar Rap would like to encourage that part of the Cantankerotti contingent to show more haste when it comes to their document dumps. The guy on the twenty dollar bill wasn't counseling the likes of you to dawdle as you insist on waving your flag of ineptitude.

• Planning Commission Meeting October 2016

Tonight's meeting was billed as a special meeting. 

The usual slot for the planning commission meeting is the first Wednesday of the month. Any other Wednesday and it seems to get the "special" designation.

Item 2.1 Nova Homes Residential Project

Click to enlarge.

This is located about 600 feet north of Clinton Keith on the west side of George going to Iodine Springs.

Just to the south of the Wildomar Springs housing development that is currently in the building phase. 

To the south of it, on Clinton Keith, is an already approved shopping center known as Clinton Keith Village. (link to blog about it)

This was to be another general plan amendment request with the request being to remove an existing mixed use overlay (better known as MUPA).

The developer wants to build 77 homes that range from 1700sf to 3100sf on 11.25 acres.

Everything looked to be a go when commissioner John Lloyd discovered an error between the agenda packet they were holding and what the developer was working from.

It was all really nothing of consequence (which home model went where), but in California (and especially in Wildomar) if there is a cosmetic error it's best practice to stop the presses and take it from the top on another day.

Both sides cordially agreed to carry this over to the December 7th meeting where they'll be using the same set of plans that are also sent out to the public.

Possible Measure Z loophole here?

Even though this has to come back to the planning commission, as long as they had the public hearing opened, there was time for public comments. This proved to be the most eyebrow raising to me.

Kenny Mayes brought up an interesting point. This project is part traditional houses and part non traditional. The developer referred to these units as "our garden product". 

They are single family homes, but with essentially no front yards, and the owners don't own the land; they're similar to condos, but not attached.

With that, they are only on one parcel.

You may be saying, "Yeah, who cares if there are 65 residences on 1 parcel?"

Well, depending on how you read Measure Z, which charges $28 per parcel, those 65 units in the new development might only be paying $28 (total) per year instead of $1820 that would be charged if they were on individual parcels.

After the meeting I spoke with Planning Director Matt Bassi about it and he wasn't too sure how that would be interpreted. 

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CORRECTION

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I had mistakenly assumed that only the 65 "garden product" homes were on one lot. According to the agenda, it's the entire project of 77 homes. 

Which would  change the amount of Measure Z monies from said development from $1820 to $2156.

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Let's please get this figured out post haste. 

If Measure Z was mistakenly written in such a way as to allow multiple units to only pay once "per parcel" instead of once per domicile, let's please put this on the list of future agenda items and fix it. The intent was for everyone to pay into it.

If Measure Z is applied to all units in the city (even if they share a single parcel), then let's have that made clear and put this issue to bed.

I can't imagine that any of the council members would be in favor of such an odd exemption that would allow homeowners to avoid paying the Measure Z tax simply because of the way the plot plan was drawn up.

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This was answered at the November PC meeting

Click this link to read about it

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As for the Nova Homes project itself, it'll be a nice addition to the city, and nice to know that it didn't include more apartments. 

My only questions were about the ingress. It only has one entrance for 77 homes. I can picture existing peak time traffic being affected on George St if there aren't dedicated lanes and turn pockets.

•          •          •

Just when you think that at least the outlook is so black that it can grow no blacker, it worsens, And that is why I do not like the news, because there has never been an era when so many things were going so right for so many of the wrong persons. 
— Ogden Nash (1940), 1902-1971

Wildomar Rap wonders what old Ogden would have to say after watching the latest presidential debate.