SAN MARCOS: Survey results show residents don't want to pay for second access road

City officials say fire poses a danger in semirural neighborhood

By ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 3, 2008 6:58 PM PDT ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- The vast majority of homeowners in the city's isolated Coronado Hills neighborhood are unwilling to pay for a $5 million road that would give them a second way in and out of the community during an emergency, a city survey found.

City officials began exploring the possibility of a new access road earlier this year, saying they're concerned about residents getting out and firefighters getting into the semirural neighborhood during a fire or other major threat.

Set in the hills that overlook Cal State San Marcos on its eastern side, Coronado Hills has about 330 residents who use Coronado Hills Drive to get in and out of the neighborhood.

The long, steep road is S-shaped and narrows down to one lane at its southern end.

City officials proposed that a private, one-lane road at the southern end of Coronado Hills be widened and connected to Twin Oaks Valley Road to create a second access route. Officials also suggested that the project's $5 million cost could be split among the neighborhood's residents, who would pay $125 to $145 per property each month for 30 years.

However, 72.5 percent of the 100 or so people who responded to the survey said they preferred to do nothing about the proposed road.

San Marcos fire Chief Todd Newman said Wednesday that city officials therefore have shifted their focus to educating the residents about the fire danger and trying to get them to protect themselves by creating defensible space around their properties.

"Obviously, we're extremely concerned," Newman said. "The whole idea behind (the proposed road) was to improve the safety of that community in there. We're not likely to burden people with thousands of dollars of road projects. But at the same time, we're trying to make it safe for them to get out of there in case of a wildfire. We also want to make it safe for us to get in there so that we're not going to lose residents or firefighters."

The concerns about fire danger arose late last year, when a 100-acre wildfire threatened the neighborhood. Dozens of Coronado Hills residents were fleeing the area as firefighters headed up Coronado Hills Drive to fight the flames.

Although the fire was extinguished without incident, city officials said it highlighted the potential for people to become trapped in the hills. The City Council asked members of the city's staff to explore the idea of a new access road earlier this year even though the city has no money for the project.

The proposal staff came up with would see Attebury Drive, a private, one-lane road at the south end of the neighborhood, widened and connected to Twin Oaks Valley Road.

Some Coronado Hills residents who attended a city workshop about the proposal in January voiced concern about the idea of having to pay for the road themselves. Others said they feared the proposed route would open the area to unwanted traffic and visitors.

The city mailed its survey to 188 Coronado Hills property owners in June. Respondents were given three choices: work with the city to build a public road; work together on their own to build a private road; or do nothing.

City Manager Paul Malone sent Coronado Hills residents a letter last month that said the vast majority of respondents had picked the third option. The rest were split between the other options, with 13 percent favoring a joint project with the city and 11 percent preferring that residents build a new road on their own, the letter said.

Malone said Wednesday that the outcome reflected what city officials have consistently heard from Coronado Hills residents.

Coronado Hills resident Debra Koechert said it was relief to know her family, which has lived in the area for 19 years, will not have to come up with money for the road.

"We won't be moving," she said. "We're just going to hope that it doesn't come down to really needing (the road)."

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Bob wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:51 PM:The city should have maid the developer pay for this

George wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:30 PM:One third of SANDAG's $58 billion transportation budget is for local roads and streets. Go talk to them.

Here we go again-tax tax tax wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:17 AM:More lunacy from this council. Charge homeowners $52,000 each for a road to nowhere while the council borrows $100 million to build high rise apartments in a flood plain and spends millions more to buy up private land all over the city. Sounds like another back room land speculation deal is being brokered by the city administration. Maybe this has less to do with fire safety than it does to do with the city council planning another big development deal that needs a road. Where's this road go exactly-show us a map.

John Q. wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:31 AM:"semirural", oh my that is a good one! Not since the "improvements to jacks lake were reported have I read such an entertaining line.

What developer wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:56 AM:Hopefully, the City Council won't declare Coronado Hills a "Blighted" area and thus include it in another Redevelopment Zone, so they can do what they want, where they want. Once a Zone has been created, all of us are stuck with it. Good for the citizens of Coronado Hills standing up for their rights ! If they don't want to have to pay for a road that they don't even want, so be it. I bet that there's a developer involved who doesn't want to have to cough up the funds to build "improvements" in that area. Vote for Propositions N and O in November. Vote a resounding "Yes" on both propositions.

TO BOB wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:49 AM:Developers never pay for roads, schools, parks, ect. They may sign for a bank to front the money. The one that purchases the property after development will pay as an added cost of the project,plus a profit for the added risk they took for the liabilty. In the end you will pay more. I am sitting here looking at the homes in question. No big developer all custom, built on a very high fire brush area.

Rick wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:20 AM:I suggest developers in other parts of the city be required to pay for the road.

esteban wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:46 AM:"We're just going to hope that it doesn't come down to really needing (the road)." Insert ominous foreshadowing music here...

Dan wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:28 AM:This housing project should never have been approved without the second access road. Since the city "Planning" department failed in their job they should be made to build the road. However, since city is not accountable there is little chance the city will stand up and take responsibility.

cristian wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:29 AM:it works

Your PROBLEM wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:53 AM:Homeowners also need to take responsibility for what they buy. If they buy a pig in a poke, then you become the proud owner of the pig. Whatever happened to buyer beware, where the buyers takes responsibility for what they buy. You bought into a one access community that is a risky place if a fire begins in the hills around you. Now either live with that and the increased fire insurance rates, try to pawn your property off to some other unsuspecting soul or correct the problem. Your property - your problem.

TO RICK wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:16 PM:If I understand you. You would have the cost of this road paid for by buyers of homes on the other side of town. Example lower income home buyers will pay for road, for property owners in higher encome dist. Your thinking leaves me speechless.

Norco wrote on Sep 4, 2008 2:22 PM:Look up: Mello-Roos and HOA fees

Cost is always passed on to the home owner.

Rick wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:43 AM:Actually I was thinking about commercial developers (hopping centers etc.). They may or may not get additional rent from commercial tenants, but who cares. It's just the cost of doing business in this town.

Bernie wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:37 AM:All new SD County developments already have stringent rules including the use of fire resistant and fire retardant building products.

However, owners must be responsible.

Sounds like the Coronado Hills residents need some creative ideas.

Perhaps the dirt road could be made wider at a very reasonable price, and be used during fire, earthquake, other.

All residents, including C.Hills folks must learn and practice defensible space, use fire resistant fire retardant products including plants bushes trees, etc. Most cactus and succulents are fire resistant and drought tolerant.

All residents must reduce their fire risk year round.

We all need to be prepared and improve our old or new homes/yards to insure safer communities.

Stakeholders (homeowners) must be part of the solution. Stay and Defend or Go Very Early. During the year continue to maintain defensible space, clean out rain gutters, plant hygiene (destroy weeds and sick old plants).

Fire season is YEAR round and there are not enough firefighters, trained volunteers, equipment, nor money.

QUOTE From Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire Chief.
" ... the reality is that in a major wildfire, there will simply not be enough fire engines or firefighters to defend every home. ... Successfully preparing for a wildfire requires you to take personal responsibility for protecting yourself, your family and your property. ... the most important person in protecting your life and property is not the firefighter, but you." END QUOTE.

REDUCE YOUR WILDFIRE RISK. PLAN AHEAD.

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