| The Santee Quality of Life Coalition is committed to reducing traffic congestion, sustainable growth and sustainable land use that benefits Santee and our entire region. |
 |
| If you are not already a member of the Santee Quality of Life Coalition, please join us in the ongoing effort to protect Santee's quality of life.
Email SanteeQualityofLifeCoalition@cox.net
Tom Abshire, Chair
|
 |
|
| Land Use Decisions are key to Santee's Future |
 |
Santee, with a current population of approximately 53,000 is expected to add another 15,000 residents by 2020. Santee has over 600 new housing units approved for construction in 2004 and projects atleast several hundred more houses for 2005. Citizen inputs about how Santee grows and mitigates for growth impacts are key to protecting our quality of life!
View Santee Maps
|
| New Developer Buying Fanita Ranch |
 |
We’ve kept Santee’s population stable for 13 years, yet our commutes have increased dramatically due to sprawl around us. Now the City wants to increase our population by 30% and the county wants to increase outlying areas by 50%. How much time and frustration will that add to your commute through and out of Santee?
Our hillsides are again under attack. And don’t be fooled – they all tell us they are doing larger lots and then map high density. The City won’t even provide an honest analysis of how many units are allowed under Santee’s General Plan. We prevailed twice in court on 1,227. ZERO units belong on these steep unstable slopes that provide viewshed, landslide and flood protection for the city!
Has sprawl made you time poor?
______________________________
New developer buying Fanita Ranch
Barratt American plans larger lots and houses
By Jose Luis Jiménez
STAFF WRITER
June 13, 2003
SANTEE – Barratt American Inc. is in escrow to purchase Fanita Ranch from Terrabrook, bringing the 2,600-acre parcel a significant step closer to development.
President Mick Pattinson confirmed the company expects to close on the property by next month. After that, it will begin the planning process and does not expect to begin building on the sloping hills for several years.
Pattinson feels confident Barratt can create a development that satisfies the City Council's desire for larger homes and the residents' concerns about preserving open space. He declined to discuss the sale price.
"We see the Fanita Ranch as a place for move-up housing," said Pattinson. "We think it's a great piece of property."
Terrabrook did not return messages seeking comment yesterday afternoon. The company has been trying to sell the property since its proposal for a 3,000-home subdivision was rejected by voters in 1999.
Unlike the previous five suitors in the past 16 years, Barratt did not poll the City Council on its stance about the controversial development, said Mayor Randy Voepel. He believes the developer can live within the parameters of the city's general plan.
In 1997, city staff calculated that 1,227 homes would meet the large-lot requirement (minimum 8,000 square feet) recommended by the planning document. Depending on how the zoning is interpreted, the number could reach 1,800, Voepel said.
The company did not disagree with the mayor's analysis.
"We've already done our due diligence," Pattinson said. "We are confident that the right plan can be approved in the city for Fanita Ranch."
The mayor reiterated his pledge to put the plan before the residents for a vote.
Longtime Fanita Ranch opponent Van Collinsworth said he expects residents to reject it.
Collinsworth and his group, Preserve Wild Santee, led the opposition to Terrabrook's proposal. The group wants to conserve the land as open space to preserve native plants and endangered species.
Despite extensive lobbying, he has gotten little support from the City Council.
"We'll work with anybody who wants to pursue (public) funds to preserve it as open space," Collinsworth said. "If they pursue a development plan, we will work to block it at every opportunity."
Founded in 1958, Barratt American is part of a privately held, multinational corporation. Its headquarters in the United States is in Carlsbad. Over the last decade, the company has sold over 200,000 homes in the United States and Europe.
Its Web site lists 13 active developments stretching from San Diego to Perris in Riverside County. Prices in the seven developments in San Diego County begin at $500,000 and soar to over $1 million. Pattinson said about half of the company's sales are in larger homes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Jimenez: (619) 593-4964; jose.jimenez@uniontrib.com
Copyright 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Home
|
| Protect Santee's Quality of Life! |
|
|
| Protect Santee's Quality of Life! |
|
|
|
