June 3, 2021
Cruisin’ Grand Returns!
SoCal Productions and the City of Escondido are excited to welcome Cruisin’ Grand back to our historic downtown.
Cruisin’ Grand will kick off on Friday, June 18, from 4 - 9 p.m. and run every Friday night until September 24. All of your favorites will return including live music, DJs, kettle corn, and of course, the best display of pre-1974 hotrods in the country! Something a little different this year is the closure of additional streets to allow enough room for street-side dining and retail as well as plenty of space to display the vehicles and allow for spectators. Each Friday, Grand Avenue will be closed from Escondido Blvd. to Ivy St. and the side streets (Maple St., Broadway, Kalmia, and Juniper) from Second Ave. to Valley Parkway.
This event is open to pre-1974 vintage, antique, hotrods, and muscle cars. Visit cruisingrand.net for additional details.
Fourth of July Fireworks
The City of Escondido is excited to bring fireworks back to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. While we will not have our traditional large-scale event, there will be a spectacular fireworks show at 9 p.m.
The community is welcome to enjoy the fireworks show from anywhere in central Escondido including Grape Day Park. The fireworks will be launched from their typical location in the Woodward Avenue parking lot. Grape Day Park will be open past dusk with traditional regulations in place – no dogs, BBQs, or alcohol.
SR-78 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Caltrans District 11 is continuing work on the SR-78 Pavement Rehabilitation Project. Beginning on June 1, Caltrans crews will work in phases overnight. Work will run from 9 p.m. - 5 a.m. on Sundays - Thursdays. A project schedule and more information can be found at: https://dot.ca.gov/.../dist.../current-projects/sr78upgrades
BY THE NUMBERS
Business License:
Code Enforcement:
Total Code Cases (Year to Date)
|
812
|
Public Works:
Graffiti Restitution:
Collected Past Week
|
Collected Year to Date
|
$0
|
$8,724.86
|
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:
Busy Day for Escondido PD:
On May 24, EPD Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call that a subject was actively stabbing family members. A total of four victims were injured. Video evidence is being evaluated as part of this ongoing investigation.
Also on May 24, EPD officers responded to a robbery at Chase Bank. The suspect showed a handgun to the teller during the robbery. SWAT, K9, and numerous patrol officers worked together to apprehend the individual. The handgun was confirmed to be a toy gun.
Additionally on May 24, EPD Dispatch received a call of a single car crash. The car crashed into a parked vehicle after fleeing the scene of a previous car crash. The driver did not appear to be wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected through the windshield.
Community Resources:
- Anonymous Tip Line: 760-743-8477 (TIPS)
- Crime Data/Mapping: https://www.crimemapping.com/
- Helicopter Announcement Transcription:
- Call 858-866-4356 or text “Hello” to 858-866-4356
- Megan’s Law Information: https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/
- Mental Health & Crisis Intervention:
- Access and Crisis Line: 888-724-7240
- It’s Up to Us Campaign: www.Up2sd.org
- Get Connected. Get Help: Dial 211
- Non-Emergency Line: 760-839-4722
Click it or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign
This year’s Click it or Ticket campaign is from May 24 - June 6. During this time, EPD officers will actively look for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. This includes drivers who do not secure children in child safety seats.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 43% (9,466) were not wearing seat belts. In 2019, 620 passengers killed in crashes across California were not wearing a seat belt.
California law requires a child to be properly secured in a car or booster seat in the back seat, until they are at least 8 years of age or at least 4’9” tall. Children under the age of 2 shall ride in a rear-facing seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.
California has a primary seat belt law, which allows law enforcement officers to ticket someone for not wearing a seat belt without committing another traffic violation.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING
Building Permits and Inspections:
1. Counter staff conducted in-person meetings with 164 applicants, processed 124 applications, and issued 91 permits.
2. The total permit valuation for the week was $3,206,462.
3. Building inspectors hit a new record this week with 381 building inspections completed in a single week blowing the previous record of 347 out of the water.
Development and Capital Projects Update:
Curious what’s happening with development projects around the City? See below for milestone activities that have happened since last week. Skip to the bottom of this section for a list of projects that are in progress but do not have an update this week. To learn about previous applications for residential and commercial development permits, please visit the Development Project Information Archive page or contact the Planning Division.
Commercial / Office / Industrial:
1. Carvana – (Developer: Jo Ryan, Carvana) 559 N. Hale Avenue – A vending machine car dealership, consisting of 5,800 square feet within an eight-tier glass and steel tower structure up to 75 feet in height. The project was approved by the City Council on August 23, 2020. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans. Demolition of the old Talone’s Meat Market has been completed. Rough grading has been completed. The steel framework of the building is now under construction and visible from I-15.
2. Mercedes Benz Expansion – (Developer: Jody Stout, Integrity Design and Construction) 1101 W. 9th Avenue – A Master and Precise Plan modification to demo the existing dealership showroom and construct a new showroom, office, parts storage and service building. The project is still in the entitlement phase; however, the applicant is completing final revisions to the project materials in response to City comments. It is anticipated that this project will be reviewed and considered by the Planning Commission at a meeting in July.
3. Raising Cane’s Restaurant – (Developer: Ada Fermin, PM Design Group) 1280 W. Valley Parkway – A 3,744 square foot drive-through restaurant located on the east side of the southbound off-ramp on W. Valley Parkway. The project was approved by the Planning Commission on July 14, 2020 and the project is now under construction. The former Coco’s restaurant has been demolished and the contractor is beginning site preparation work. The contractor is performing the offsite utility work along Lambar Street.
Residential:
4. Quince Street Senior Housing (Developer: Matt Jumper, 220 Quince, L.P.) 145 apartment units at 220 N. Quince Street – The five-story affordable senior housing apartment project was submitted on November 21, 2017. The City Council approved the project on October 23, 2019. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission of and approval grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans. Building plans were submitted on May 10, 2021. Plan check review is expected to be completed this week.
5. Jack’s Creek TR 951 and SUB 17-0026 – (Developer New Pointe Development). An approved 12-lot, single-family residential subdivision on 3.31 acres. The site is located at the westerly terminus of Jack’s Creek Road, north of El Norte Parkway, addressed as 640 Oakwood Creek Glen, formally 2888 E. Washington Avenue. The project was approved by the Planning Commission on November 13, 2007 and an extension of time was approved on September 12, 2017. The project is now under construction. The developer recently started construction on the remining six homes.
6. Palomar Heights (Developer: Ninia Hammond, Integral Communities) – An approved land use development application consisting of the demolition and redevelopment of the old Palomar Hospital site with 510 multi-family units with 10,000 square feet of commercial. This project was approved by City Council on February 10, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans. On April 29, 2021, the applicant filed a design review package to address some of the project’s conditions requiring architectural building design changes. City staff completed its review and transmitted comments back to the applicant on May 20, 2021. The City also received demolition plans to remove the existing hospital from the premises.
7. Del Prado (Developer: California West Communities) 2329 South Centre Parkway – A 113-unit townhome-style Planned Development located at the southwestern corner of Brotherton Road and the Centre City Parkway frontage road. The City Council approved this project on May 11, 2016. Building plans were submitted on May 20, 2021. The Final Map was approved by the City Council on May 26, 2021. Rough grading of the site has been completed.
8. Henry Ranch (Builder: Joe Martin, Trumark Homes) – A 97 single-family home development on 74.35 acres at the eastern terminus of Lincoln Avenue. The City Council approved this project on December 13, 2006 and the project is now under construction. The developer, Trumark, has nearly completed onsite water, storm drain and sewer utilities and is working on pedestrian ramps and sidewalks. Model homes are now open to the public, and the contractor is now focusing on new home construction.
9. Oak Creek (Builder: KB Homes) – A 65 single-family home development on approximately 44 acres at Felicita Road and Hamilton Lane. City Council approved the project on March 4, 2015 and a map extension was approved by the Planning Commission on April 18, 2018. The first seven homes are now under construction.
10. The Villages at Escondido Country Club (Builder: Lennar Homes) 380 residences located on the former golf course off of Country Club Lane, north of El Norte Parkway. The project was approved by City Council on November 15, 2017 and the project is now under construction.
Villages I – About 60 homes have been given final inspections. Many of the homes built are now under contract to individual purchasers. Street lights are being installed along Country Club, between Nutmeg to Gary Lane.
Village II - Rough grading is nearing completion.
Village III - Rough grading is nearing completion. The contractor is installing a new sewer manhole and main line at the intersection of La Brea and Country Club along with private water and sewer lines. In track curb and gutter have started to be placed.
City Projects or Other Capital Improvement Projects:
11. Escondido Creek Trail – In 2020 the City was awarded $8.5 million from the California Department of Parks & Recreation through the Proposition 68 Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 to improve approximately 4.5 miles of the existing Escondido Creek Trail (between Harmony Grove Road and Midway Drive) and add approximately 0.4 miles of new bicycle path (between Harmony Grove Road and the Citracado Parkway extension) to the linear park. This project will create a double-sided trail on approximately 1.7 miles; on one side will be the existing Class I bicycle path, on the other will be a new DG trail. After stakeholder meetings and community workshops in 2020, 60% construction drawings are nearly complete. Design review of the construction drawings will be conducted by the Planning Commission, tentatively scheduled for July 13, 2021.
12. Washington Park Skate Spot – 501 N. Rose. The City recently awarded this project bid to Geocon Skateparks. When completed, the 7000-sf skate spot will be a new urban skate spot with multiple features including a quarter pipe, pump bump, grind edge, banked hip with rail and a 5-sided pyramid. Bid award was made by the City Council on April 21, 2021. Work for the new Skate Spot will start on June 7, 2021.
13. The Membrane Filtration and Reverse Osmosis (“MFRO”) Facility – The MFRO will treat a portion of the City’s existing recycled water supply from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility and blend it with recycled water that has not been treated by the MFRO process to produce water with a salt concentration appropriate for agricultural irrigation. The blended water will then be pumped to agricultural users. The MFRO Facility will provide high‐quality water that is low in total dissolved solids and chlorides to high-water-demand agricultural growers who serve a vital role in the City’s economy. The location at 901 W. Washington Avenue was approved on April 3, 2019. The contractor, Filanc Brown & Caldwell Joint Venture, submitted building permits on March 9, 2021 and has received comments/corrections. Grading plans were approved on June 2, 2021. Resubmittal for building plan check is expected next week.
14. Storm Drain Pipe Lining and Rehabilitation Project Phase II – The Contractor is continuing to clean and make repairs to the storm drain flow line. The work consists of storm drain cleaning, inspection, CCTV, repairing and grouting voids, point repairs, grouting existing flow line, cured in place pipe lining, storm drain structure floor repairs, post CCTV and inspection, and overall rehabilitation of existing corrugated metal pipe storm drain systems. Contract work for this project has been completed.
15. SDG&E 16” Gas Main Replacement – In January 2019, the CPUC’s Safety Enforcement Division approved SDG&E’s test or replace plan for Line 1600, a 16-inch natural gas transmission pipeline which was not strength tested in 1949 when it was constructed. This next phase of PSEP projects will include 19 separate projects that will take place in the cities of San Diego, Escondido and Poway, as well as the County of San Diego. Approximately 5.4 miles of replacement and 2.7 miles of strength testing are expected to occur in Escondido from 2020-2024. The first portion occurred along Midway Drive, and work is now ongoing on Bear Valley Parkway. The contractor will continue to work nights along Bear Valley Parkway for the next several weeks. Construction is scheduled to conclude in July 2021.
16. Citracado Parkway Extension - The project will extend Citracado Parkway between Andreasen and Harmony Grove Village Road, including a bridge over the Escondido Creek in the western portion of the City. In February, the Public Utilities Commission approved the relocation of electric transmission facilities necessary for the project. SDG&E has ordered the steel poles necessary for the relocation and expects to begin electric facility relocation in June. Bid and award of the actual road project is anticipated this summer with construction beginning in fall 2021 and completing in early 2023.
17. Escondido Entry Monument Signs – Stone veneer installation has been completed for all three entry signs. When completed the project will consist of three new signs that will be placed at Grand Avenue near the Gateway Center, Via Rancho Parkway at Sunset Drive, and El Norte Parkway near Woodland Parkway.
18. 2021 Street Rehabilitation and Maintenance Projects Phase I (Concrete and Tree Removal and Replacement) - Notice to Proceed has been issued. This year’s work will be in the North West Zone, which is bordered by Broadway to the east, State Route 78 to the south and City limits to the north and west. The scope of work will include the removal and replacement of over 30,000 square feet of concrete sidewalks, driveways and cross gutters. 52 pedestrian ramps will be upgraded to current standards and approximately 50 new trees will be planted. Work has started in the Escondido Hills area with tree removal, removing and replacing damaged concrete sidewalks, driveways, curb and gutters. Phase II of the Street Maintenance Project will focus on street repair and rehabilitation.
Ongoing Projects - No Updates This Week:
Projects that do not have any changes or updates this week will be listed here to indicate that they’re still in progress. When an update occurs, the project will appear above in the Development and Capital Projects section.
Commercial / Office / Industrial:
19. Interfaith Recuperative Care Facility/Hotel – (Developer: Interfaith) 555 North Center City Parkway – Conversion of the existing lodging facility (America’s Best Value Inn) and construction of improvements to establish a residential care facility designed to provide a variety of transient stays for at-risk individuals, homeless, etc. The Conditional Use Permit was approved by the Zoning Administrator on May 25, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
20. 7-Eleven Gas and Convenience Store – (Developer: Golcheh Group) 900 W. Mission Ave. – A 4,000 square foot convenience store with eight fuel dispenser pumps on the northeastern corner of Mission/Rock Springs. The project was approved by the City Council on January 13, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
21. Solaris Business Park Annexation – (Developer Whalen and Associates) 657 N. Country Club Lane – A four-lot, light-industrial and medical office complex on approximately 45 acres of land, just northwest of the Palomar Medical Center. The annexation will be processed as a new specific plan. The application is still in the entitlement phase. It is anticipated that an Environmental Impact Report will be prepared for this project.
22. Burros and Fries - (MPA Architects) 1107 E. Valley Parkway – A 5,224 square foot commercial building, with associated landscaping and parking for a drive-through restaurant and additional retail space. The Planning Division approved the project on December 24, 2018 and the project is now under construction. The shell of the building’s construction is complete. Interior, tenant improvement work needs to be completed before opening. No anticipated opening date has been provided to the City.
23. Medical Office Building West on the Palomar Health Hospital Campus (MOB-West, Developer Palomar Pomerado Health) – A three-story medical office/outpatient facility of approximately 72,000 square feet. Approval for design review was issued by the Planning Division on January 17, 2013. The applicant recently requested some changes to the zoning permits and a substantial conformance determination was approved March 5, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
24. ERTC/Palomar Health Parking Structure (Developer: McCarthur Construction). An application request was received on October 21, 2020 to build 1,906 parking spaces at the new hospital campus. The proposed parking garage is six stories. Approval for design review was issued by the Planning Division on April 4, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, and building plans. The first round of building permit review has been completed.
Residential:
25. Warmington (Developer: Warmington Residential California, Inc.) – A 62 air-space condominium development, consisting of 10, three-story buildings located in the Southern Entry District of the South Centre City Specific Plan at 2200 S. Escondido Boulevard. The project was approved by the Planning Commission on March 23, 2021. The Planning Commission is the final decision-maker for the project. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
26. Casa Mercado Apartments (Developer: Paul Mayer, Pemcor) – A four-story, 120-unit apartment complex on 2.31 acres on Second Avenue and Pine Street. The City Council approved the project at its May 12, 2021 meeting. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
27. North Iris Residential Development (Developer: Hallmark Communities) – An application for a Master and Precise Development Plan and Tentative Map for 102 condominiums at the southeast corner of North Iris Lane and Robin Hill Lane. The project is still in the entitlement phase. The initial application was submitted on March 11, 2021. The City completed its review and issued a comment letter on April 9, 2021, regarding the completeness of the application (i.e. notice of incomplete application).
28. Canterbury Gardens Apartment Project (Developer: Kensington Canterbury Gardens, LLC) - A Plot Plan application was submitted on January 26, 2021, for the development of an apartment project at 2402 South Escondido Boulevard (the site of the Canterbury Gardens retail store). The project proposes to demolish the existing structures on the site, and construct 44 townhome-style, market-rate rental units. Units will range in size from 1,028 to 1,254 square feet, will be three stories in height, and will have two to three bedrooms. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
29. Habitat for Humanity 10-Unit Condominium Development (Developer: San Diego Habitat for Humanity) – A 10-unit development at 245 E. El Norte Parkway. All units will be for sale to low-income households. This project was approved by City Council on February 10, 2021. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
30. Villa Portofino – (Developer: Chris Post, ATC Design Group) 15 apartment units in a three-story building with parking garage at 2690 S. Escondido Blvd. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
31. Hacienda De Vega Redevelopment – (Developer: Tony Cassolato) An approved proposed residential condominium development consisting of 42 three-story attached townhomes on 1.75 acres. The project was approved by the City Council on October 21, 2020. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
32. North Avenue Estates (Developer: Casey Johnson) – A 34 single-family home development at North Avenue/Conway Drive. The project was approved by the City Council on January 10, 2018. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
33. Sager Ranch/Daley Ranch Resort Specific Plan (Developer: J. Whalen Associates, Inc., Sager Ranch Partners) - 203 housing units and 225-room resort hotel on 1,783-acres, just north and east of Daley Ranch. The project is still in the entitlement phase and was deemed an incomplete application. A project webpage containing draft documents and plans can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.escondido.org/daley-ranch-resort-specific-plan.aspx
34. Fig Apartments (Developer Claude Marengo) – A 15-unit, three-story, multi-family residential apartment complex on 0.59 acres. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
35. Reed Road Assisted Living Facility (2525 Reed LLC) – A new residential care facility is proposed on a 4.2-acre site on 2525 Reed Road. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
36. Iwashita Apartments (Developer: Iwashita Development) – A six-story, mixed-use project at 322 S. Escondido Boulevard for 172 units. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
37. Apollo Residential Care (NOAA Group) – An assisted living and memory care facility, with 78 units accommodating 99 beds at 3141 East Valley Parkway. The project was approved on January 14, 2020. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
38. East Valley Parkway Apartments (Developer: John Wurster) – A 50-unit mixed use affordable apartment complex consisting of four stories situated on a 21,000 square foot vacant parcel in the historic downtown district. The project is still in the entitlement phase.
39. Nutmeg Condo General Plan Amendment (Developer: Jim Simmons, CCI) – A 137-unit townhome condo project, located on both sides of Nutmeg between I-15 and Centre City Parkway. The first phase of the project was approved by the City Council on November 20, 2019. The second phase was approved by the City Council on November 18, 2020. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of grading, landscaping, street improvement, and building plans.
40. Harvest Hills, (Developer: Concordia Homes) - 550 residential subdivision, east of Rancho San Pasqual. A project webpage including draft documents and plans can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.escondido.org/safari-highlands-ranch-specific-plan.aspx
City Projects or Other Capital Improvement Projects:
41. Lake Wohlford Replacement Dam – the project involves a new dam downstream (west) of the existing dam and partial deconstruction of the existing dam. The replacement dam would feature an outlet tower that is integrated into the dam’s upstream face; the top of the existing outlet tower would be demolished, and the bottom of the existing outlet tower and the outlet pipe would be filled with sand and abandoned in place. The project would entail improvement and extension of an existing unpaved access road located west of the Lake Wohlford Marina, extending it to the right (north) abutment of the replacement dam. The project’s EIR was certified on August 23, 2020. The next step for the project’s implementation involves the submission and approval of permits and agreements by the wildlife agencies. In order to obtain environmental permits for construction, the City must prepare upstream restoration and mitigation plans, short-term and long-term habitat management plans, a watershed evaluation, perform field protocol surveys, and update the Jurisdictional Wetland Delineation survey.
42. School and Traffic Safety Projects - Each year the Traffic Commission prioritizes and funds traffic safety projects focused on improving pedestrian and vehicle safety. Projects are nominated by each School District, COMPACT, residents and staff. This year four priority projects were completed, including crosswalk improvements at Oak Hill and Citrus, crosswalk improvements on Lincoln Avenue near Pioneer Elementary, pedestrian countdown timers at five intersections and an Audible Pedestrian Signal at El Norte and Centre City Parkway that serves the sight impaired.
43. Spruce Street/Transit Center Pedestrian Bridge Project – The City Council approved a Partial Notice of Completion for areas 2 and 3 on February 10, 2021, which ends the construction contract on the storm drain channel between Grand and Valley and between Spruce and Third Avenue. Those sections will now be maintained by Public Works as part of the City’s storm drain system. The earthen portion between Grand and Valley will also have a contractor maintaining the plantings in that area as required by the environmental permits for the project.
44. Creek Trail Crossing - The final design for the Creek Trail Crossings project that improves all seven Creek Trail intersections between Juniper and Citrus was approved. Improvements include a signal at Midway and rapid flashing beacons with bulb-outs, where the roadway width permits, at other locations. The project also fills in sidewalk gaps along Citrus and Midway. It is anticipated that construction will begin by late summer.
45. Multi Neighborhood Street Light L.E.D. retrofit Project Phase II - This project generally consists of the removal of approximately 725 non-LED street light fixtures and safety light fixtures, and the replacement with specified L.E.D. street light fixtures and L.E.D. safety light fixtures at various locations within the City of Escondido. The contractor is continuing to retro fit the new LED lights and has moved to the South East Zone, west of Midway Drive. To date, over 700 street lights have been converted.
FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:
On May 24, Escondido Fire responded with EPD to a multiple stabbing incident in the area of Lincoln and Rock Springs. In all, four victims and one suspect were transported to Palomar Medical Center.
On May 24, fire crews conducted Wildland Urban Interface training with all on duty crews. This was excellent training conducted in the field at areas more vulnerable to wildfire. Topics covered included structure triage, structure prep, Lookouts-Communication-Escape Routes-Safety (LCES), water supply options, and population evacuation.
On May 31 the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received reports of a vegetation fire located at Amanda Lane, north of Gamble Lane and just to the east of Del Lago Academy. Upon arrival, the fire was approximately 1 ½ acres in size in light flashy grass, moving at a moderate rate of spread. The nearby homes were potentially threatened, however evacuations were not necessary.
Firefighters fully contained the fire at just under two acres and worked for an additional hour mopping up hot spots. In all, three fire engines, one truck company, and one Battalion Chief responded to the fire. The fire caused minor damage to a fence on the property. Firefighters determined that the fire was accidently caused by a tractor as it was conducting vegetation mitigation. Once he recognized that a fire had started, the tractor operator utilized his equipment to construct fire breaks prior to the arrival of fire units. This action reduced the spread of the fire.