More county road standard talks set

San Diego County Planning Commission’s subcommittee to update public road standards for the county will meet again July 17, and proposed standards are slated to return to the commission on July 31.

Thirty-four people attended the commission’s June meeting. Among them were Ramona residents Jim Piva, Ramona Community Planning Group member who is chair of the group’s Transportation and Trails (T&T) Subcommittee, and Frank Coakley, a T&T Subcommittee member.

Planning Commissioners Leon Brooks, Peder Norby and John Riess will be reviewing the input received at the subcommittee meeting, and the county’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will provide a response.

Also at the June committee meeting were representatives from four county departments: DPW, Department of Planning and Land Use, Office of Emergency Services and Air Pollution Control District. Chris Champine from Supervisor Bill Horn’s office attended as did representatives from the Bonsall, Fallbrook, Jamul/Dulzura, Spring Valley and Valley Center planning groups and the Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Town Council.

Industrial and environmental group representatives and representatives of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and Palomar College also attended.

Proposed road standard updates originally went before the planning commission on April 24, when one 7-0 vote continued action until June 19 while another 7-0 vote formed the subcommittee.

On June 19, the planning commission continued its hearing to July 31 to allow for the second subcommittee meeting as well as for review of the initial meeting’s input. Comments expressed April 24 and in writing from planning groups and residents were that the update protects rural community character.