Why this matters
The San Diego region is in the middle of a housing and affordability crisis, but in the face of a warming planet where extreme weather is more common, new developments will continue to face environmental scrutiny.
A massive proposed development that would build nearly 3,000 homes in north Santee, known as Fanita Ranch, is back in court.
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit this month against the city of Santee and its City Council for approving the latest iteration of the long-fought project in a fire-prone area. The suit points out that updated CalFire maps show the proposed site is in “a very high fire hazard severity zone, the highest fire risk designation in California.”
“This designation is well deserved, as the area has burned at least 65 times in the last 100 years,” the suit says, highlighting the 2003 Cedar fire.
Last month, the Santee City Council voted 3-1 to approve plans by HomeFed to develop 2,600 acres on the northern edge of the city. The latest plan, which was first approved nearly two decades ago, includes about 3,000 single-family and multifamily housing units, commercial space, a school, a fire station, a police station, a park and 1,650 acres of habitat preserve.
The groups are challenging the proposal under the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA, and raising allegations that city officials are flouting the will of voters by refusing to put the development proposal on the ballot.
In 2020, Santee voters narrowly approved Measure N, which requires voter approval of any future development that increases residential density beyond what’s already allowed under city law. To bypass that requirement, the lawsuit alleges, city officials made sure about 15% of the proposal’s housing units were market rate and age restricted.
“The City/Developer understands they are likely to lose if they must face the voter,” said Van Collinsworth, director of Preserve Wild Santee — one of the parties involved in the suit. He claims they have “devised a scheme” to evade voting requirements for such large developments.
“In simple terms, the City is trying to use density bonus laws, senior housing and a self-proclaimed emergency to justify avoiding the will of Santee voters,” Collinsworth added.
Santee city officials did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
