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Merriam Mountain Development Not Dead Yet

Merriam Mountain Development Not Dead Yet
San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts has called for another hearing on Merriam Mountain, a major development that would build thousands of new home on Interstate 15.

San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts has called for another hearing on Merriam Mountain, a major development that would build thousands of new home on Interstate 15.

Roberts says, because of the size and significance of the project, it should get a hearing before the full board of County Supervisors.

Roberts was absent for a vote on the development last month. The remaining supervisors split two to two on the issue, which meant the project would have died without Roberts’ intervention.

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The project would put 2,600 homes in the hills west of Interstate 15, north of Escondido.

Roberts cites the substantial issues raised at the previous hearing, including whether there is enough water for so many new homes, the lack of a fire evacuation plan and complaints from rural neighbors about years of construction noise.

The State Attorney General has also questioned its compliance with state law requiring more consideration of carbon emissions.

The County’s General Plan Update, which has been in the works for more than a decade, calls for fewer than 100 homes on the site.

Roberts says all these concerns should be addressed again by both the developer and county staff before the project is brought back before the board for another vote.