Village Design Group prepares for workshop

In preparation for the Aug. 6-8 design workshop with consultant Howard Blackson, members of the Ramona Village Design Group met July 22 and discussed the format and focus of the event.

Working from a schedule that Blackson had sent the group, the members took note of the meeting times starting at 9 a.m. In the evenings on Thursday, Aug 6, and Friday, Aug. 7, there will be project pin-ups, and on the last night, Aug. 8, there will be a final presentation. The evening sessions are slated to last until 8.

While the Village Design Group has eight members, Chairman Rob Lewallen said he would like to have a total of 18 people involved in the workshop, along with county staff members and Blackson’s design team.

At Blackson’s recommendation of inviting representatives from various community-interest groups, the design group came up with a list of people they want to invite to participate. Lewallen said he would like to have a couple of people from the Ramona Community Planning Group attend all three days.

When discussing aspects of the workshop and the previous Phase I plans, Lewallen mentioned creating a riverwalk along the Santa Maria Creek, even if they can only complete one block.

“I know there are a lot of environmental aspects,” said Lewallen, suggesting they could fast-track and clean up the vegetation along the creek.

“There’s a volunteer aspect to it, too,” he added.

Co-Chair Carol Fowler suggested a nature kiosk at the riverwalk.

Dawn Perfect, a school board and Trails and Transportation subcommittee member, was at the meeting and said she had attended meetings throughout Phase I.

“I didn’t like the format but some of the ideas were good and discussions healthy,” she said.

While talking about the timeframe of Phase I and II, Perfect noted that there were a lot of economic issues during Phase I.

“The economy is different,” she said. “We are not in a building boom. This is a little more relaxed.”

Lewallen responded that the county is pushing to have this plan done for the general plan.

In other business, Fowler reported that she talked to Realtor Doreen Smith who told her that the big box development is on hold. Target had been mentioned as a big box store for this development.

Lewallen notified the group that the Aug. 1 open house for the Ramona Community Garden is going to be re-scheduled.