Item 6.1 - Additional Material submited by public at meetingk0 -W
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To: Poway City Council
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From: Chris Cruse
RE: 9/17/2019 City Council meeting #6.1
I am concerned about the process whereby the Big Stone Lodge parcels
were sold to the City's Housing Authority.
I remember when we first started choosing sites for affordable housing.
The staff compiled a list of vacant sites, and the council appointed a
citizen's committee to review the sites. Some of the criteria for inclusion
on the list was that the parcel had to be a certain size, it needed to be
near transportation routes and schools, and grocery stores. Poway had
to hire a court-appointed consultant to review their site selection
process. I remember that the #1 site on his list was a parcel on Twin
Peaks - the very same parcel where the council vetoed a project for
veteran's housing a few years ago.
I actually had no idea that the council was considering the Big Stone
Lodge parcels for affordable housing. It was never on a previous list.
The city bought the parcels in 2003 in order to preserve the BSL and
create a passive park. Everything the city did afterwards was toward
making the site into an historic, passive park. After redevelopment was
dissolved, the city asked the state to keep these parcels for the purpose
of using them as an historic passive park. The city told the state that an
historic passive park was the highest and best possible use for this land.
I agree.
These parcels are not suitable for any type of housing, affordable or
otherwise. Most of the land is in the floodway or the 100 yr floodplain.
The access road is in the floodway and does not have all- weather
access.
This site has historical significance, but it also has great value because
of the creek and riparian habitat. There is a grove of oak trees that are
older than the BSL.
There is a condo project on the hill above the BSL. The developer of the
condo project was required to put in a buffer between his project and
the BSL property. There are restrictions on what can be planted in that
buffer, in order to protect the riparian habitat on the BSL and adjacent
parcels which were purchased for mitigation purposes.
If and when the City does an EIR for some project proposed for the BSL
parcels, I imagine that the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife would be
very concerned about putting high density housing next to riparian
habitat. EIR's always have a part where an alternative is suggested, and
weighed against the proposed project. With all of the constraints to
building on the BSL parcels, I imagine that #1 site on Twin Peaks would
be a much cheaper and more viable and appropriate alternative.
I went back and looked at the Jan. 9, 2018 council meeting agenda and
the meeting minutes. I could not find any mention of a workshop or
venue where the council asked the public for input on selling these
parcels to their housing authority. The meeting was noticed to nearby
neighbors, but most of us in this city knew nothing about it.
Before moving forward with demolition or anything else on this parcel, I
am asking that the council stop, and do what should have been done
before selling the parcel to the housing authority. Have a public process
where the community and other stakeholders can weigh in on the
matter. We might have a lot to say if you take the time to listen to us.
Sincerely,
Chris Cruse
To: Poway City Council
Date: Sep. 17, 2019
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My name is Torrey Powers and I live at 12447 Buckskin trail. I was born and raised here in Poway like my
Father Bobby Powers and his Father Ralph Powers. I serve on the Poway Historical Society Board like my
Grandmother Dolores Powers, who also happened to be one of the creators and co-founder. We have
worked to preserve the history of Poway through the years and here we are again fighting to regain the
Historical site status of the Big Stone Lodge as well as secure its future as a passive park. Please check
out the great pictures of the old timer's picnics from this historical site and you will spy my great
grandmother Helen Powers, my grandparents and all the other pioneer family's breaking bread and
having a good of time together.
This time last year I was running against the incumbent and everyone who supported her kept referring
to her resume as a land use staffer for Supervisor Horn for example. After she won the election those
same people said "give her a chance." Well I did just that.
A few months back I asked Caylin "where do you want the Veteran's housing?"
She replied with "I like the Monte Vista site since it's near the Hospital, a shopping center with a grocery
store, a community garden, churches and public transportation."
I told her "now that is something I can support, count me in."
Her only ask was that we get the city talking about it while she worked with staff on the process. Well
Caylin..... we certainly got the city talking about it.
Gentlemen I would like to challenge you to take the same advice you gave me. When it comes to the
Veteran's housing development you promised us, respect Caylin's resume and give her a chance.
Question: Do you still need the private lot next door for this project to be large enough for an affordable
housing development?
This time last year Caylin was proposing to buy a lot of land off Metate not even half a mile from Big
Stone Lodge to turn into Passive Park but it was too expensive. Big Stone Lodge is the right fit with rich
history, fertile soil for the giant beautiful trees and the best part is that we already own it.
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September 17th, 2019
Poway City Council Honorable Mayor Vaus and Councilmembers
From Marianna Bacilla, 12747 Tustin Street, Poway Ca 92064
Subject Agenda Item 6.1 Big Stone Lodge
Honorable Mayor Vaus and Council Members,
Imagine arriving with your family or friends at our new, trail staging area, on Poway's historic, Old
Pomerado Road. You pile out of the car and settle in at the picnic benches, preparing for your journey,
enjoying shade from the ancient oak trees that soothed the weary passengers from the stagecoach, more than
a century early, or even before that, the Native American families performing their daily tasks.
Imagine reading the information about the history, and the native plants and animals of the area, in rustic
kiosks, constructed by local Scouts, working on their Eagle Scout badges.
Imagine sitting in an open air amphitheater, bordered by the original stone walls of it's previous incarnation,
listening to a volunteer docent bringing history to life.
We have an opportunity to transition the Big Stone Lodge parcel, which the City of Poway purchased 16
years ago, into something truly wonderful in South Poway - a passive park that can benefit our whole town.
If we don't plan carefully, this opportunity, and history, will be lost forever.
We are asking that the city honor the plans that are already spelled out in our own city documents.
We are not asking that the building be restored. To the contrary, it is evident that the majority of the building
needs to be demolished, especially the wooden fagade that hides the beautiful bxi& walls behind it.tt..
We are asking that the foundation be maintained, and the perimeter of the brick wall be preserved in its
original state, up to about 3' high. A thoughtful plan needs to be created for this demolition project, to protect
the lower portion of the wall, the foundation, and the old-growth oak, and sycamore trees that surround the
perimeter of the building.
We have waited a very, very long time for this land to be transitioned into a passive park. The reason given
for not moving forward with this has always been that we didn't have enough money. However, this project
can be done in phases, with almost no initial cost.
Just like the South Poway Trail Staging Area, on Metate Lane, a clean and safe parking lot will suffice to
begin this transition.
Then, through both grant money and volunteerism, future phases can be completed without significant
financial burden to our city, but yet with tremendous benefit.
I urge you to search your hearts and minds - to do the right thing with this important historical land. There
are several other possible, more appropriate locations for the much needed Veteran's housing. This is not one
of them. While today's agenda item is not addressing the land use specifically, we all know this is what's
being considered.
Again, I urge you to do the right thing with this important, historic parcel of land, which is to transition it
into a passive park, for all residents of Poway whom you represent.
Thank you,
Marianna Benedict- Bacilla
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