Aaron Smith’s Blog

On Tuesday evening at the Carmel Valley Planning Board meeting held at the Carmel Valley Public Library, there were many items on the agenda, but 90% of the seats were filled by residents of Pacific Highlands Ranch eager to learn about and discuss the proposed Pacific Highlands Ranch Village Center. The Village Center is a 26.67 acre development site with approximately 290 residential (Condo) dwellings (mixed affordable and market-rate) and 215,000 sq ft of commercial space and 18,000 for a library. Although the plan and intention is for all 290 units to be “for sale” condo units, it is possible that it could change to rental apartments. On the side of the development closest to Carmel Valley Road, there is a planned 50,000 square foot of commercial space reserved for a “specialty grocer” such as Trader Joe’s, Henry’s, Jimbo’s, etc. taking up 35,000 sq. ft. and the remainder for other commercial space.  This portion of the development will likely be the first area to be developed and is the only part of the PHR Village

Center that can be built prior to the “flyovers” being constructed at the East Route 56 to North I-5 connector (scheduled to start no earlier than 2013).  That means the 50,000 sq. ft. could be completed as early at 2010.

Following last month’s Carmel Valley Community Planning Board Meeting, Pardee made three significant changes to the overall site plan.  These changes were in response to requests and suggestions by mostly Airoso residents as well as the Planning Board.  These included:

1. Changing the height of the residential buildings that are closest to Airoso and Village Loop to 2-story rather than three or four stories.  Pardee did make the change and the condo units now increase in height gradually from two-story initially to four-story at the most interior location.
2. 
   
   Village Square/Main Street – the main pedestrian street down the middle of the development has a commercial building at the end.  Residents and the Board requested that this be moved and rotated out of the way of the views to make this less noticeable and prominent.  Pardee successfully made this change to the satisfaction of the Board and residents.
3. Proposed Cinema – At the previous meeting Airoso residents expressed their concern about the cinema.  In response, Pardee has reduced the size of the cinema from 46,900 square feet to 35,000 square feet, which is a reduction of approximately 25%.  The Board was pleased with this change.  Airoso residents are (in general) still opposed to the cinema entirely.

Following some discussion, Airoso made a thorough presentation of their position which included a petition/survey that they reported showed 94 of 102 total respondents against the cinema. This survey included Airoso, Portico, Arabella and Santa Rosa.  Suffice to say, there’s some strong opposition amongst those that voted. Unfortunately Bordeaux and Soleil at Bordeaux were not included in the survey or the Planning Board discussion. One of the main complaints in addition to the cinema was that the cinema plan was never communicated properly to the residents of PHR.  As a result of their presentation, the Board voted to table the matter for 90 days to allow ALL residents of Pacific Highlands Ranch to review and learn about the Village.

So, now it’s up to residents of Pacific Highlands Ranch to come together and work with Pardee to review and discuss the plan.  We have 90 days to arrange a meeting or “Town Hall” meeting.  I’ve volunteers to help coordinate this with Pardee and possibly the principal of Canyon Crest Academy for use of one of their facilities.  If you would like to help coordinate a Town Hall meeting for this topic, please post a comment here or email me directly to discuss. sold@route56homes.com