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Two big items were pulled from the agenda (*2.3 and 3.2) and are said to be slated for next month's agenda. That, in my estimation, reduced the number of newsworthy items to one, 3.1 (see below).
The meeting started with a presentation to two local Eagle Scouts, Canyon Dannenberger and AJ Acosta of Troop 332.
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A twist with one of the Public Comments on non-agenda items in that a proclamation was given to the Council (it's usually the other way around).
It was recognizing the 250th year of the United States of America from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and for the service the council does for the community.
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| The presenters were Malia Olsingh and Susan Lovett. Also in the photo are Malia's mother, Carrie, and little brother (I didn't get his name). |
Before getting to the key news story, let me add highlights from the Community Development Department update first.
Several projects that are in the process of being built were mentioned.
Wildomar Crossroads (Sprouts)
The construction of the apartments has begun, but there is a delay with the commercial side of the project.
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Marriot (Townplace Suites, 102 Rooms)
This is immediately to the west of the new Kaiser medical office building. They are still in the grading part of construction and no dates were given as to when it would open, or even when we will see "vertical" construction.
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Stable Lanes (Carwash on Clinton Keith)
This is located between Barons and Starbucks. It's about 13,000sf of commercial that, at one time, was said to be the future home of an auto parts store and A Better Buzz coffee dispensary.
I asked staff if they knew which tenants were going in alongside the carwash, and there wasn't a definitive answer, but there was a drive-thru pad mentioned.
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Camelia Townhomes (Palomar and Washington)
This development caused a lot of commotion back in 2017, but that was before all the low-income apartments that Sacramento started forcing into every community up and down the state. Now I'm sure people are happy to see market-rate, for-sale condos (about 163 units in a gated community).
The original price points, if memory serves well, were around $200K, but I asked last night, and the number being batted around at this point is closer to half a mil.
There is serious road realignment going on there. Historically, Palomar curved into Washington around the city line with Murrieta, but that's changing.
Palomar will now be going straight into Jefferson with Washington being a T intersection. Before there is a certificate of occupancy, all the roadwork will need to be buttoned up. No timetable for that at this point.
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| Reminder, these are FOR SALE units, with a price point of half a million dollars. |
The original price points, if memory serves well, were around $200K, but I asked last night, and the number being batted around at this point is closer to half a mil.
There is serious road realignment going on there. Historically, Palomar curved into Washington around the city line with Murrieta, but that's changing.
Palomar will now be going straight into Jefferson with Washington being a T intersection. Before there is a certificate of occupancy, all the roadwork will need to be buttoned up. No timetable for that at this point.
Tres Lagos (Phase 3)
They've done work on their drainage mitigation measures, but they don't have any other permits pending at this time.
Walmart
Building permits have not been issued. There wasn't a guesstimate of when they'd be open, but based on past statements, we can anticipate before Christmas 2027.
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Unnamed 20 Acre Park
Brief background.
In 2023 I helped spearhead the acquisition (without using general fund dollars) of twenty acres adjacent to the Windsong Valley community. The other option was for the previous owners to sell it to a developer who could have built about 80 homes (that's not taking into account "density bonuses" the state encourages).
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The twenty acres are already a quasi natural park with a loop trail, and converting it to public use would be a relatively easy lift compared to other undeveloped parkland in Wildomar.
In short, the dollar amount necessary to open this park is far smaller than to open the 27 acre park next to Ronald Reagan Elementary School or the 11 acre park next to David A Brown Middle School.
In short, the dollar amount necessary to open this park is far smaller than to open the 27 acre park next to Ronald Reagan Elementary School or the 11 acre park next to David A Brown Middle School.
Ok, with that established, we've been eagerly awaiting this park's opening for well over a year, and the date keeps getting pushed back.
I don't know who to throw under the bus, so I'll lay it at the feet of the previous Wildomar city manager. A lot was going on in 2025, and dealing with the opening of this park in the promised amount of time, obviously slid off the important things to attend to list.
I will slot myself as the key proponent of this park, even, dare I say, ahead of Bridgette Moore (who loves parks more than Spiderman loves shooting webs and traveling from building to building down city blocks. lol), but in this case, I asked my council colleagues to NOT go ahead with a temporary entrance off Gierson Ave.
Let me back up again
I will slot myself as the key proponent of this park, even, dare I say, ahead of Bridgette Moore (who loves parks more than Spiderman loves shooting webs and traveling from building to building down city blocks. lol), but in this case, I asked my council colleagues to NOT go ahead with a temporary entrance off Gierson Ave.
Let me back up again
The original plan was to put the entrance off of Palomar, with a secondary entrance off of an extended Gierson. That's the part that fell by the wayside.
There was an artificial urgency to get the park opened, though there weren't any contractual obligations to do so, as most of us shared the same misapprehension that there were.
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| This is the location of the entrance and parking lot off of Palomar St. |
Once it was clearly established that we don't need to do a rush job trying to open this new park before it's ready, we stopped rushing.
The denouement (yes, I love 10¢ words 😁), the city will not be opening the new natural park with a temporary entrance on Gierson Ave.
The original plan of the primary entrance off Palomar is back in place. There was no estimated opening date, but based on previous estimates to open that entrance, it could be September 2027, but let's wait for the official words from the Public Works department.
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| This is the dead end street of Gierson Avenue. When it's time to create this entrance to the park, it needs to be done according to the approved plans, not any temporary measures. |
Remember, when money becomes available, there are plans for a full extension of Gierson and a proper parking lot and entry point.
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| When this happens, I hope that whoever is on Wildomar's city council will demand that the entrance to the newly extended Gierson be where the gate to close the park is set, and not allow for the new cul-de-sac to be an after hours hang out. |
Also in the mix was an alternate entrance off of South Pasadena St, which looks like a good spot for on street parking and another way into the park.
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| Thank you to staff for coming up with this suggestion. Now, let's work to make it happen. |
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There are two ways to watch this city council meeting. One is on YouTube, the other is through the city's website. Both have their own advantages. The YouTube option comes with its standard player and the ability to jump throughout the video.
The option on the city's website lets you go into the agenda and click the exact item you're looking for (no guesswork involved).
*2.3
*3.2
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