Lake Elsinore, Warm Springs Annexation Moves Forward: Supes Sign off on Proposal

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - Riverside County supervisors Tuesday approved a land annexation agreement with the city of Lake Elsinore, under which the latter will take control of more than 650 acres encompassing a community known as Warm Springs.

The compact was secured in a 4-0 vote -- with Supervisor John Benoit absent -- and remains contingent upon final approval by the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission.

Lake Elsinore sought the annexation to extend its sphere of influence over unincorporated county property in the area of Nichols Road and Collier Avenue. Virtually the entire Warm Springs community lies within the acquisition zone, requiring the county to reach terms with Elsinore officials regarding the continuation of law enforcement and fire department services for residents.

The substance of the agreement is that if the city terminates its law enforcement and fire services contracts with the county in the future, the city will guarantee that Warm Springs continues to receive those services from the municipal agencies established to fill the void.

Another provision of the agreement stipulates that Warm Springs residents will have the option to utilize any park or recreational site within the annexation area -- at a cost equal to that borne by Elsinore residents.

An outlier in the compact is the potential extension of El Toro Road to create a direct link between Temescal Canyon High School and Nichols Road. The county stipulated that Elsinore apprise the Executive Office of development plans that impact the "Bow Tie" property.

The parties also established covenants related to ongoing economic development in the area.

Warm Springs has been designated a "disadvantaged unincorporated community" because its median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide median. The community is one of 40 so-called DUCs in the county.

— By City News Service / Patch file photo