2018-2020: Jim Desmond Told Voters He Would Oppose The Lilac Hills Ranch Project Unless It Had Emergency Access Infrastructure, But Later Voted To Keep The Project Alive Despite Opposition From The County Fire Chief
2005-2018: The Lilac Hills Project Was Proposed And Rejected Multiple Times
2005: Developers Proposed The Lilac Hills Project
2005: Lilac Hills Was First Proposed. “Lilac Hills was first proposed in 2005. In 2009, county planners rejected the project, saying it was out of step with the county's plan to concentrate housing development in village areas, rather than maintaining the county's patterns of sprawl.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
2009: County Planners Rejected Lilac Hills, Saying It Was Out Of Step With The County’s Plan To Avoid Sprawl
2009: County Planners Rejected Lilac Hills And Said It Was Out Of Step With The County’s Plan To Avoid Sprawl. “Lilac Hills was first proposed in 2005. In 2009, county planners rejected the project, saying it was out of step with the county's plan to concentrate housing development in village areas, rather than maintaining the county's patterns of sprawl.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
2016: Voters Rejected Lilac Hills By A Wide Margin
2016: Voters Rejected Lilac Hills By A Wide Margin. “Lilac Hills was first proposed in 2005. In 2009, county planners rejected the project, saying it was out of step with the county's plan to concentrate housing development in village areas, rather than maintaining the county's patterns of sprawl. The developer appealed that determination to the county Planning Commission, and won. Then in 2015, county planners recommended approving the same project, but it never went for a full vote after former Supervisor Bill Horn recused himself due to financial conflicts of interest from developable land he owns nearby. The project then went before voters in 2016 and was rejected by a wide margin.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
2018: The Planning Commission Held A Hearing On Proposed Changes To The Lilac Hills Ranch Project
2018: The Planning Commission Held A Hearing On Changes To The Proposed Lilac Hills Ranch Project. “NOTICE REGARDING LILAC HILLS RANCH PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 8, 2018 HEARING: The Planning Commission hearing on the Lilac Hills Ranch project this Friday, June 8 is to consider whether the changes to the proposed project, which have occurred since the Planning Commission’s recommendation on September 11, 2015, are considered ‘substantial modifications’ requiring additional review and recommendation by the Planning Commission, as outlined by California Government Code Section 65356. The hearing on this item is limited to consideration of this issue. Public testimony will be limited to the changes that have occurred to the proposed project since the Planning Commission’s recommendation on September 11, 2015.” [San Diego County, Planning & Development Services, Lilac Hills Ranch Recirculation, accessed 5/14/26]
2018: Desmond Said He Would Not Support The Lilac Hills Ranch Project Unless It Had Infrastructure For Emergency Access
2020: San Diego County Resident JP Theberge Posted A Video He Said Showed Desmond During His Campaign For Supervisor. [JP Theberge, Facebook, 6/15/20]
Image: see original report, p. 21
[JP Theberge, Facebook, 6/15/20]
2018: VIDEO: Desmond Told The Audience At A Candidate Forum That He Would Not Support The Lilac Hills Ranch Project “Unless It Has The Infrastructure That’s Necessary For Their Emergency Access.” DESMOND: “Project on Lilac Hills Ranch. And unless it– unless it– and I don’t know, is it out there yet? I haven’t seen–” [Audience commotion] DESMOND: “It’s one of the bundled ones, okay. I have not seen it yet to be honest. Unless it has the infrastructure that’s necessary for their emergency access, ingress and egress, and it provides that for the rest of Valley Center, I would not support it. So unless it comes with that infrastructure, it brings you the extra benefit of emergency access and is adequate for the city, the fire department signs off, yes this is good, you know, then I would approve it. But if it’s the same old thing, it’s not going to come through. I know I think there– I talked to somebody with the project and they said it was, I guess it’s coming back as the green project. Well it really should come back as the infrastructure project. And I think if it had that infrastructure in place and it’s all there and it provides you the extra benefit, then I’d be a favor of it. If it doesn’t, no.” [JP Theberge, Facebook, 00:00, 6/15/20] (VIDEO)
- Desmond: “If It’s The Same Old Thing, It’s Not Going To Come Through.” DESMOND: “Project on Lilac Hills Ranch. And unless it– unless it– and I don’t know, is it out there yet? I haven’t seen–” [Audience commotion] DESMOND: “It’s one of the bundled ones, okay. I have not seen it yet to be honest. Unless it has the infrastructure that’s necessary for their emergency access, ingress and egress, and it provides that for the rest of Valley Center, I would not support it. So unless it comes with that infrastructure, it brings you the extra benefit of emergency access and is adequate for the city, the fire department signs off, yes this is good, you know, then I would approve it. But if it’s the same old thing, it’s not going to come through. I know I think there– I talked to somebody with the project and they said it was, I guess it’s coming back as the green project. Well it really should come back as the infrastructure project. And I think if it had that infrastructure in place and it’s all there and it provides you the extra benefit, then I’d be a favor of it. If it doesn’t, no.” [JP Theberge, Facebook, 00:00, 6/15/20] (VIDEO)
2020: The Developer Said It Had Made Fire Safety Changes To The Lilac Hills Ranch Project, But The County Fire Chief, Planning And Services Director, And Community Members Opposed The Plan
Village Communities Told The Board That They Made Substantial Changes On Fire Safety To The Project. “Village Communities LLC, the developers of Lilac Hills Ranch, wanted board approval for the master-planned community, located east of Interstate 15 and Old Highway 395. […] During Wednesday's lengthy public hearing, Village Communities officials told board members that they had made substantial changes on fire safety measures, including evacuation routes, more roads and money to clear fire prone-vegetation.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
Desmond Acknowledged That The County Fire Chief Opposed The Project Because It Could Not Be Safely Evacuated In Case Of A Major Fire. “After the vote, Desmond said that it wasn't ‘good government to deny a project when the developers are willing to continue working on a solution.’ He acknowledged that county Fire Chief Tony Mecham had also opposed the project, because it couldn't be safely evacuated in case of a major fire.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
The County’s Planning And Services Director Recommended The Lilac Hills Ranch Project Not Go Forward. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny a controversial 1,700-home development near Valley Center that voters rejected nearly four years ago. Village Communities LLC, the developers of Lilac Hills Ranch, wanted board approval for the master-planned community, located east of Interstate 15 and Old Highway 395. However, the board ratified the county Planning & Services recommendation that the project not go forward. Mark Wardlaw, Planning and Services director, said his department didn't ‘present this recommendation lightly.’ He added staffers spent more than eight years dealing with the applicant over fire safety and related concerns.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
Several Community Members Opposing The Project Mentioned The Deadly 2018 Camp Fire That Killed 80 People As An Example Of What Could Happen With The Wrong Type Of Development. “Supervisors also heard from over 30 people, many of them area residents, on the project. Those in favor said Lilac Hills was needed for more affordable housing, while opponents also cited fire safety issues and how the project would negatively impact the community's rural feel. Several people also mentioned the deadly 2018 Camp Fire in California's Butte County as an example of what could happen with the wrong type of development. That fire killed more than 80 people.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
2020: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote To Keep The Lilac Hills Ranch Project Alive
June 2020: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote To Keep The Lilac Hills Ranch Project Alive. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny a controversial 1,700-home development near Valley Center that voters rejected nearly four years ago. Village Communities LLC, the developers of Lilac Hills Ranch, wanted board approval for the master-planned community, located east of Interstate 15 and Old Highway 395. However, the board ratified the county Planning & Services recommendation that the project not go forward. […] Supervisor Jim Desmond, who proposed remanding the application for further review, cast the sole vote in favor of keeping the project alive.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]
Desmond Said It Was Not “Good Government To Deny A Project When The Developers Are Willing To Continue Working On A Solution.” “After the vote, Desmond said that it wasn't ‘good government to deny a project when the developers are willing to continue working on a solution.’ He acknowledged that county Fire Chief Tony Mecham had also opposed the project, because it couldn't be safely evacuated in case of a major fire.” [KPBS, 6/24/20]