Supervisors deny controversial sand mining project in Rancho San Diego
San Diego County Administration Building Photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously upheld the previous denial of a major use permit for a proposed sand-mining project near Rancho San Diego After listening to almost people including area residents union members environmental advocates tribal representatives and a former colleague Dianne Jacob during a general forum that lasted slightly more than hours supervisors rejected plans for the Cottonwood Sand Mine According to the county the project proposes the conversion of the existing Cottonwood Golf Club golf courses to a -year sand mining operation with an additional two-year reclamation period The proposed project would have covered acres along Willow Glen Drive between Jamacha and Hillsdale roads in Rancho San Diego just south of El Cajon Concerns by nearby residents included traffic noise and particulates from mining operations and aesthetics A Jamul resident noted approving the mine would be the Tijuana sewage problem The permit reclamation plan and associated state Environmental Quality Act requirements failed to win approval from the county Planning Commission on a - vote July Four votes were required for passage There was one vacancy on the commission Planning and Evolution Services staff members spoke in favor of the rejection during their Wednesday presentation Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe who represents District which includes part of the project area reported she appreciated the need for cheaper sand material for construction especially in terms of more affordable housing However she noted there was no guarantee that benefits from the sand mining operation would stay in the county and wasn t assured letting it move forward View this post on Instagram A post shared by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe d supmonica Supervisor Joel Anderson whose District would also be directly impacted in a comment to City News Organization after the vote explained he appreciated all of the work the developer put into the mine proposal but sometimes projects don t fit their society Before casting her vote Wednesday Supervisor Paloma Aguirre she had systematically considered the mine and its economic prospective I think the quality of life impacts that this project would bring are very vital because of noise and safety concerns mentioned Aguirre who added she couldn t aid the project Supervisor Jim Desmond an often-vocal proponent for more housing disclosed he really struggled with this one but was concerned the project doesn t fit well there with population character Existing housing was there first Desmond added It was unclear what measures the mine developer listed as Cottonwood Cajon ES on Wednesday s agenda would take following the Board of Supervisors vote Jennifer Lynch an attorney who spoke for the developer during Wednesday s meeting couldn t be reached for comment after the vote Barry Jantz a consultant and founder of the StopCottonwoodSandMine org group declared he and other opponents were pleased by the board s vote In the last week or so we were cautiously optimistic about the project being stopped Jantz commented At the same time we weren t going to listen to anything but our hearts and turn out the group The board s vote meant it saw it exactly the same way we did It s just an incompatible use in the middle of established residential area Jantz added During the Wednesday meeting Lynch solicited the board to grant an appeal Lynch reported pursuits on this proposed site date back years she explained Even after a nearby golf subject was completed mining occurred in the s between - and even as late as Lynch commented The project has had extensive planning and environmental reviews extraction is allowed on the site and reports exhibited no notable noise dust air or water quality impact There is no other suitable location for sand mining in the county Lynch stated To be clear this is a sand mine and not a rock quarry she added There is no blasting there is no rock crushing Lynch announced the county would eventually gain acres of open space from the project and benefit from lower construction costs and additional revenue In years there is no doubt the region will be better off from this site she explained Other proponents including carpenters union members mentioned the mine was needed to help reduce a shortage of locally sourced sand for building which impacts construction costs housing projects and industry When we fail to invest in the guidance we need the greater part we fail to invest in the people who live and the people who build this group and work here revealed Jesse Garcia of the local chapter of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters We must choose advancement progress and the opportunity for everyone he added Jacob a District county supervisor from - announced that in her decades of experience she had never seen such a destructive project with such negative impacts on the people who live in the region Jacob also mentioned the county already has six advancing sand mines A man who only gave his name as Tom noted he had lived in Rancho San Diego for over years and was drawn by its natural beauty amenities and homes and that a mine would put a damper on everything
