Measure B: An Impartial Analysis

Editor's Note: Following four days of arguments for and against Measure B published on San Juan Capistrano Patch, we're running this impartial analysis written by San Juan Capistrano's City Attorney Omar Sandoval:

Measure B is a referendum over the adoption by the City Council Resolution 10-11-02-02, which approves a General Plan Amendment re-designating the 9.1 acre westerly portion of the Distrito La Novia site located east of Valle Road from "Specific Plan" to "Planned Community."

The General Plan amendment also establishes land uses for the 153.8 acre Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows Planned Community at 7 percent general commercial, 3 percent high density residential, 44 percent open space recreation, 28 percent low density residential and 18 percent natural open space. These land use percentages allow the development of the Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows project described in detail below.

A YES VOTE means that the Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows General Plan Amendment described above will be approved.

Associated with the General Plan Amendment are separate approvals that include a rezone approving a Comprehensive Development Plan that establishes land use and development standards for the proposed residential, commercial, retail and 500-horse commercial equestrian; Tentative Tract Maps that subdivide the land into parcels for the different uses, including 94 single-family residential lots on the San Juan Meadows site; an Architectural Control approval for the Distrito La Novia site with mixed uses consisting of 75,100 gross square feet of commercial uses (food market, restaurants, and retail), 16,500 gross square feet of office/retail/hotel uses, 50 residential apartment units,  and 90 condominium residential units not to exceed 130 total units; a Grading Plan Modification approval to alter the existing topography of the 153.8 acre project area; and a Landfill Closure Plan and Post-Closure Maintenance Plan for the former Forster Canyon Landfill.

A NO VOTE means that the General Plan Amendment will be rejected and the development project described above cannot be implemented. The city will be prevented from approving a substantially similar development for a period of one year. The City may immediately consider a different development, or the property owner may develop the property pursuant to the existing land use entitlements.

The 153.8 acre area has been previously approved for the development of a 300-room, 160,000 gross square foot hotel and conference facility, and approximately 9.6 acres for undetermined public-institutional uses at the Distrito La Novia site; plus 275 single-family residential lots, and 165 multi-family senior affordable apartments on the San Juan Meadows site. A NO vote does not prevent development of the 153.8 acre Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows area and the property owner would retain the right to develop the property with these previously-approved land uses.

Correction: This article correctly identifies the location of the proposed projects as east of Valle Road, rather than west.

Read argument opposing and supportin Measure B:

Read Patch's news coverage of Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows: