League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Diego County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Proposition H Lakes Specific Plan City of Escondido Majority Approval Required Fail: 10675 / 39.37% Yes votes ...... 16442 / 60.63% No votes See Also: Index of all Propositions

Arguments For Proposition H	Arguments Against Proposition H
The Lakes Specific Plan is a compromise proposal that collected more than 11,000 signatures and was placed on the ballot by the City Council to revitalize 110 acres of vacant land in northwest Escondido. Protects Open Space and the Environment The Plan preserves 25% of the property for open space and implementation will comply with applicable environmental protection regulations. It will reduce the previously allowable number of homes by nearly 30% and reduce water consumption by more than 50%. It establishes a privately funded $1 million Open Space Preservation Fund to protect and preserve open space and greenbelts citywide. Creates Jobs and New Tax Revenue The Plan is expected to generate $82 million in economic activity and $18.7 million to the General Fund. It is estimated to generate $639,000 in new tax revenue annually and create 155 full time jobs. Market analysis projects it will raise home values in the surrounding area. Funds New Community Center, Pool, and Parks The Plan will fund a 10,000 square foot community center with Olympic-sized pool on 3.6 acres, including tennis courts, playgrounds and trails. History The Escondido Country Club was acquired from its third bankruptcy in 2012. Membership dropped by 70% to only 119 members. A professional golf management firm determined it was not financially viable requiring $2 million in infrastructural investments, $230,000 in back taxes and water bills, while losing $35,000 each month. Country Club residents backed an initiative that attempts to force the property to remain a golf course regardless of viability. This Plan restores the property owner's rights but reduces the previously allowable number of homes by nearly 30%, requires the preservation of 25% for open space, and $1 million in funding for open space preservation. Vote Yes on The Lakes Specific Plan and Move Escondido Forward TAE SAPIDA MICHAEL SCHLESINGER Escondido Coalition for Open Space Community and Revitalization SENATOR DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH (RET.) National Tax Limitation Committee MICHAEL D. CREWS Creating a Revitalized Escondido Rebuttal to Arguments For PROPOSITION H IS A DEVELOPER'S ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR A BAD PROJECT The argument in favor of the "Lakes Specific Plan" was written by the Beverly Hills developer and two of his out-of-town consultants to obtain voter approval for the construction of 430 houses in dedicated open space that includes a flood plain. The City reports that all the benefits claimed by the developer will be offset by costs. The construction of a club house, pool, tennis courts, holding ponds, streets and sidewalks will only leave the taxpayers with a long term bill for maintenance. Proposition H will only produce thousands of new cars on our streets and more students in already crowded classrooms. Escondido has always welcomed GOOD development but there is nothing good about this project. It would break a 50-year-old promise to the community which has always relied upon this historic open space. Approval of Proposition H would nullify the City Council's UNANIMOUS vote to protect and preserve the only open space left in northwest Escondido. As the conscience of the community, we, the undersigned, sincerely believe that this project is a liability. It's not the product of careful planning for the benefit of the ultimate users or our town. Rather, it's the product of wild spending by the developer. This project cannot survive based on merit. It should not be allowed to survive at all. Vote "No" on Proposition H. DICK DANIELS Former City Councilmember JOHN MASSON Councilmember District 2 MIKE SLATER President ECCHO/Keep it Green MICHAEL K. MORASCO City Council Member District 4	PROPOSITION H, THE SO-CALLED "LAKES" SPECIFIC PLAN, IS WRONG FOR ESCONDIDO. It will cram a 430-unit subdivision down the throats of local residents by overriding the General Plan approved by Escondido voters. A Beverly Hills developer, using money and his well-oiled political machine, created the proposition so he can ignore history and bypass local planning standards and state environmental laws. If passed, this massive development would add 5,000 more cars to already crowded streets and hundreds of students to already overcrowded schools. Because it would build houses where they don't belong, the City says that condemnation of private land could be necessary to widen and improve the streets. Water demand for the subdivision would be 453,048 gallons a day and the City's waste water treatment plant wasn't designed to handle this unplanned addition. The subdivision puts houses in a floodplain and the official City report says it increases the potential for flooding in surrounding areas. The developer offers money, a swimming pool and a club house in return for the 430 building permits. The official City report, however, determined that the revenues from the project "would be offset by maintenance and operation costs for City services and facilities..." Taxpayers will end up bearing the burden. Most importantly, the "Lakes" subdivision would destroy 110 acres of open space. For more than 50 years, Escondido has benefited by the open space facility that identifies the Northwest part of town. Escondido residents were promised open space when they bought their homes. As stated in the City's report, Proposition H "would alter the existing...community, effectively eliminating the established theme and vision created for the area." You have the power to stop this degradation of our town. Vote "no" on Proposition H. LORRAINE BOYCE Former Mayor, Escondido ROBERT "CHICK" EMBREY Retired Coach/Educator DENNIS "COACH" SNYDER Founder CEO, Escondido Charter High JACK HALL Director - ECCHO/Keep It Green MICHAEL STEIN Former Police Chief, Escondido Rebuttal to Arguments Against Endorsed by both the San Diego County Republican and Democratic Parties, as well as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Measure H is the only compromise put forward to settle the future of the former Country Club property. It reduces the number of allowable homes by nearly 30% from the previous residential zoning designation and preserves 25% of the land as open space. It is expected to create up to $82 million in economic activity, $18.7 million in revenue to the General Fund, $639,000 in annual tax revenue, and 155 full-time jobs. Reduces Water Usage Multiple expert studies determined that Measure H will reduce water consumption from the golf course by more than 50%. Preserves Open Space Measure H preserves 25% (27 acres) of the land as open space and creates a $1 million Open Space Preservation Fund. Mitigates Traffic & School Impact Expert analysis determined the proposed public roadway and intersection improvements will mitigate increased traffic below any level of significance; and that the three school districts have capacity for any increased student population. Additionally, Measure H would generate up to $3.5 million to mitigate any school capacity issues. Creates Community Center & Parks Measure H funds a 10,000 square foot community center on 3.6 acres with Olympic-sized pool, playgrounds, and tennis courts and provides for ongoing operating costs from project revenues and user fees. All of these amenities are accessible to the entire city of Escondido. Vote Yes on Measure H and Move Escondido Forward. MICHAEL SCHLESINGER Escondido Coalition for Open Space Community and Revitalization MICHAEL D. CREWS CARE - Creating a Revitalized Esc TAE SAPIDA SENATOR DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (RET.)