Ramona Design Review Board’s purpose, according to a section of the County Administrative Code, is to implement design guidelines for “guiding architecture and design of new development in the community to maintain a community identity,” board members said, still questioning how the CVS/pharmacy store at Main and Ramona streets was allowed to be built without the board’s approval.
   During the board’s Dec. 17 meeting, member Rob Lewallen said he talked to San Diego County Planning Commission Chairman Bryan Woods, a former Ramona Design Review Board member, and asked why is there a design review board if projects are allowed to completely bypass the system.  Lewallen said Woods and the head of the county’s Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU) are going to look into the situation and talk to the county planners.
   Lewallen has commented on the height of the one-story building at Ramona Street and state Route 67 and the size of the signage, which he said is three times larger than it should be. Member Carol Close said the landscaping includes plants that will freeze and die.  
   According to Lewallen and Close, the building project was initially brought before the design review board, but the board never gave its approval.
   Design Review Chair Carole Wylie said approval was denied because the plans presented were incomplete.  After the project’s representatives were denied board approval a second or third time because of incomplete plans, Wylie said the county somehow pushed the building project through.
   Lewallen said the drugstore’s representatives never came back to the board—they got permission from the county and the project “just happened.”
   Close said she was in complete shock when two large sugar gum eucalyptus trees were suddenly chopped down at the site.  When the trees were discussed at a design review board meeting before the project began, Close said there were 10 to 15 residents at the meeting who were against cutting the trees.
   Lewallen said, while nothing can be done at this point about the building’s size, that the signage and the landscaping could be changed to comply with the design guidelines.
   The board also discussed medians that Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) is planning to install in town, as well as the one installed by the CVS store.
   Member Greg Roberson said there was discussion at the Ramona Village Design Group’s meeting on Dec. 10 about landscaping medians that are proposed for Old Town. He said Caltrans doesn’t really want the plantings but realizes there is a desire within the community.
   Roberson said the design group is hoping to have a Caltrans representative at the January meeting.
   “Caltrans has opened the door; Caltrans has closed the door,” he said. “It depends on who you talk to.”
Board members also discussed how some of the medians will impact businesses.
   At the meeting the board approved revised plans for parking lot lighting and landscaping for Ramona’s new library.  Project Manager Oscar Salas, with the County of San Diego Department of General Services, presented the plans on behalf of architect Philip Pape.
   Elmer Vires, owner of Big O Tires on Main Street, presented signage plans to the board for his business, which is being renamed Traction Tire & Service Center.   Vires said his Big O Tire franchise was up for renewal, but he believes his business would have a better chance at survival as an independent. The board approved his proposed signs.