Minutes of the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization Meeting
November 20, 1999
Jim Billups (elected at meeting), Thomas Burton, Karl Bauer (alternate), Robert Carlyle, Steve Clark (alternate, elected at meeting), Donna Dose, Elizabeth Getzoff (alternate), Bruce Graves, Susan Humason, Jack Norvall, Michael Pique, Robert Sterner, John Tainer, Robert Thicksten.
The PMPO Board meeting was convened 10:11 A.M. November 20, 1999, at the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.
The minutes of the July 31, 1999, meeting were distributed. Robert Carlyle corrected that the antenna discussed as moved from the back to the front of the property had been grandfathered, and is outside of the antenna zone overlay. Bruce Graves added that he took a person from the zoning office there, who said it looked commercial and the zoning office would look into it. Bruce does not think the antenna has been moved. He and Robert Carlyle will check it out. The minutes were approved with the above correction.
Karl Bauer, speaking for the treasurer, Debbie Bauer, reported the PMPO has met (expended) the $5,000 donation restricted to the Yale Water Project. Water attorneys Hatch & Parent have refunded our $2,000 retainer, less $322. We believe the $322 has been paid already and they will refund it. The board approved a ratification of expenditures listed by Debbie.
George Ravenscroft has resigned. The board elected Jim Billups as replacement member and Steve Clark as alternate. Mr Billups is a full-time resident off Crestline; Mr Clark (Halsey's son) lives near Pedley and is a retired Air Force colonel.
Mr. Yale in August made application for a Major Use Permit, with request for a Negative Declaration of requirement for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The PMPO and several individuals responded to the application, that there was considerable evidence to expect environmental and safety problems with the project. John Tainer noted that John Peterson, county groundwater geologist, does not seem to be considering the issue of location of the recharge area for Mr. Yale's well. Jerry McLees says the county counsel would probably insist additional tests be done to resolve this. McLees says an EIR would have a 45 day public review
Jim Billups proposed the PMPO encourage a long-term (10-15 year) Palomar Mountain ground water study involving measuring 15-20 wells monthly, to be conducted by SDSU. The study would also include rainfall and evapotranspiration measurement stations. He will look into SDSU interest and be sure John Peterson is consulted for advice and support.
Jack Norvall reported that David James, Chair of the Forest Preservation Society of Southern California, has been busy working on a Santa Barbara project but still believes creating a Crestline subdivision is a main goal. The county planning commission would have to do a ``certificate of compliance of subdivision''. Jerry McLees says the Mount Baldy subdivision we'd been using as a model was done as a condominium map, costing about $50,000. David James no longer thinks Mount Baldy a good model to follow.
Jerry McLees notes that the US Congress might ask the BLM and Forest Service to drop their claim; Steve Clark suggests pursuing that before Ron Packard leaves in 2000. Bob Thicksten suggests sending someone to Rep. Packard's office as a heads-up and request for help. Steve Clark and Jack Norvall to do.
Bob Wallace, surveyor, has still not been able to borrow the GPS unit he needs to perform the Crestline survey and may have to rent it and pay expenses for his son to travel from Oregon to help. He still owes us a receipt that we paid him $2,000.
On November 17, 1999, Bruce Graves and Tom Burton went to the county Board of Supervisors meeting discussing the downzoning from C36 (allows commercial) to RC (residential/commercial) of Palomar's small commercial area (the store area). The county is constrained by the voter-approved ``Forest Conservation Initiative'' (FCI). An exemption from the FCI would be obtained by ``Country Town Zoning'', which would allow rebuilding of the commercial property after fire or earthquake. Jerry McLees will ask staff for a compatibility change matrix as another route to this. The county is working on year 2020 general plan update and ``know Palomar Mountain needs adequate commercial center'' but made no promises.
The board authorized payment of $1,000 to Jerry McLees for his work on behalf of the PMPO.
At a meeting December 15, 1999, the county Board of Supervisors decided there was no feasible way to establish contiguous land holdings to implement the plan.
Jack Norvall said that a 37-acre property next to Pedley Pond has a major use permit for a campground and he fears it might be a water supply drain on Crestline and a possible fire hazard. Tom Burton suggested reading the major use permit; Jerry McLees will get it.
The next scheduled board meeting is February 26, 2000.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:28 A.M.
Michael E. Pique, Secretary.