On Dec. 3, 2015, San Diego County’s Department of Planning and Development Services issued a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on a project known in Borrego Springs as ‘Rudyville,’ and referred to by the County as DS24 or Borrego Country Club Estates. This EIR is being paid for with taxpayer money at the behest of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and is a preliminary step toward approving a Property Specific Request to amend the General (land use).

The Tubb Canyon Desert Conservancy (TCDC) is opposed to this proposed amendment to the General Plan for myriad reasons including, but not limited to:

1) the proposed development is in a flood plain,

2) flood mitigation would require the taking of private property solely for the benefit of these developers {Rudy Monica and Chris Brown, a former staff member for Supervisor Bill Horn},

3) the proposed EIR can not conform to the requirements of the new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act that went into effect in January 2015 because the regulations have yet to be promulgated,

4) there are multiple endangered species on this parcel, as well as a relic sand dune and an ancient ocotillo forest,

5) the grating of the relic sand dune would create a source of increased air pollution in the valley,

6) there is no need to create more residential lots in Borrego Springs as there are already hundreds, if not thousands, of unsold lots.

If you have concerns about the impact of this project on our community, now is the time to make your voice heard. The public is invited to submit Comment Letters regarding any and all environmental concerns associated with this project. Comment Letters must reference the name of the project (Borrego Country Club Estates) and the project number (DS24) and may be mailed to the Department of Planning and Development Services, Attention Peter Eichar, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123. Alternatively, letters may be e-mailed to Peter.Eichar@sdcounty. ca.gov.

The deadline for submitting Comment Letters has been extended to Feb. 4, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. County staff estimates the public hearing in Borrego Springs regarding this project will be in April 2016, but no date has currently been set.

J. DAVID GARMON, MD President,

Tubb Canyon Desert Conservancy