Judge Overturns Plan To Build 3K New Homes In Santee: Reports

SANTEE, CA — A California judge has ordered the City of Santee to nix its approval of a large new home construction due to wildfire and traffic concerns, numerous outlets report.

In late 2020, the Santee City Council approved by a 4-1 vote the Fanita Ranch project, which planned to build 3,000 homes in what is currently a mountain bike trail near Santee Lakes.

Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal wrote in a decision that developers had not adequately considered how the new homes would affect wildfire evacuations. Bacal wrote that eight resolutions and ordinances must be overturned, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Environmental groups, who have opposed the project during its many years of consideration, hailed the decision. Peter Broderick, a lawyer with the Center for Biological Diversity who leads a coalition of environmental groups opposed to the project, told CBS8 News that the project was “the worst kind of unsustainable sprawl development that paves over habitats for unique and sensitive species and places the surrounding communities at risk.”

Broderick also told the Union-Tribune that he felt the project’s environmental report was “inadequate and misleading.”

Developer HomeFed Fanita Rancho told the Union-Tribune that they would revise the environmental impact report to address the evacuation modeling plan, and re-submit it to the court. If approved, the Santee City Council will vote on a revised plan following a 45-day public comment window.

Santee Mayor John Minto said in a statement reported by CBS8 that the “city did not violate any laws.”

"Santee's next council meeting is tomorrow night (April 13), starting at 6:30 p.m. We are scheduled to get a briefing from the City Attorney at that time,” Minto wrote. “I haven't had an opportunity to see the details of the judge's decision. Therefore, it is difficult to make a comment on it. I can say that contrary to some reports, the city did not violate any laws. The Fanita Ranch development is a land use issue. As with any hearing, the decision has an appeal process. The council will confer with the City Attorney and comply with the order of the court. We can also make other changes necessary."

The court ruled that Santee has 60 days to rescind project approval, according to CBS8. Santee voters will have the opportunity to approve the revised project in November.