San Diego County Municipal Code § 14.6 Historic Site Board Review Process

The Historic Site Board (HSB) is an advisory board to the decision makers of the County of San Diego. The HSB reviews historic resources (including archaeological resources) for landmarking, participation in the Mills Act, and conformance with the Secretary of Interior Standards. The HSB considers project design and mitigation measures for resources identified during environmental review of discretionary permits and reviews legislation and the various cultural resource programs that are proposed for the County of San Diego.

All planning areas include the Special Area Regulation H (Historic) due to the site’s distinction as a historic district on the Local Register and as a California Historical Landmark (CHL). In conjunction with the County, stakeholders will be responsible for coordinating HSB review for compliance with the Historic District requirements and guidelines once applying for permits.

Introduction

This background report summarizes the preliminary Opportunity and Constraints List that were prepared to aid in the development of the Camp Lockett Master Plan/Rezone. This list draws from the analyses conducted and stakeholder input received to date.

The presented information was compiled from a wide range of sources including the following:

∙ GIS data provided by the County;

∙ Available planning and technical studies, maps, aerial, and historic photographs;

∙ Camp Lockett Master Plan/Rezone Initial “Wish List”;

∙ CLIG stakeholders;

∙ Campo/Lake Morena Community Planning Group Meeting

∙ Results from the survey conducted in support of the project;

∙ Camp Lockett Master Plan/Rezone Cultural Resources Technical Report; and the

∙ Camp Lockett Master Plan/Rezone Phase II Mobility Analysis.

Following this overview, the remaining opportunities and constraints are summarized by topic. Figures are provided at the end of the report.

The CLIG intends to develop the project site with civic, cultural, visitor, and community- oriented uses. It is important that such uses are permitted under the Master Plan/Rezone and are compatible with surrounding development.

∙ Existing uses in the plan area, such as residential uses, may be incompatible with future proposed land uses. Appropriate location and distribution of land uses and/or buffering will be necessary.

∙ The RMH zoning (656-040-64) east of the Motor Transport Museum (MTM) is incompatible with the surrounding lower density uses.

∙ The Camp Lockett Equestrian Facility (CLEEF) grading violation may limit future development.

∙ Multiple ownership may lead to potential disagreement and concern over which land uses are prioritized.

∙ Multiple ownership may lead to uncertainty about phasing as different owners may want to develop at different times. Certain owners are ready to go with funding and want to develop ASAP, while others will need to secure funding before development can take place.

∙ Collaborate with CLIG members to develop joint uses of property where appropriate (i.e. dining halls, athletic fields, etc.)

∙ Proposed land uses may detract from long standing businesses.

∙ Leverage the Ferguson House as a tourist attraction.

∙ Provide more tourist events/attractions that support food services and generate overnight guests. Opportunities for social interaction help to establish community character.

∙ Locate public restrooms throughout the project site, specifically adjacent to hosted events and overnight accommodations.

∙ Limited funding sources leave little room for development.

∙ CLIG members are fully engaged in the community and can provide ongoing support for the project.

Portions of the project site are located within the 100-year floodplain mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) and the County of San Diego. The western portion of PSRM, northern portion of CLEEF, and eastern and southern portions of the MESD Planning Areas fall within 100-year County floodplain area and 100-year County floodway. The PSRM Planning Area is also adjacent to an area identified as Zone A, in FEMA FIRMette 06073C2300G; however, the FEMA floodplain area does not fall within the development boundary (FEMA 2019). The SYH Planning Area is within 0.5 mile of a FEMA 100-year floodplain, and the northeastern portion of the SYH Planning Area falls within a 100-year floodplain. The entire MEHS Planning Area falls within a 100-year County floodplain and 100-year floodway; however, this is outside of the development boundary.

Land-disturbing construction activities, such as the grading and excavation of land for construction of new building foundations, roads, driveways, and trenches for utilities, have the potential to result in localized temporary or permanent alteration of drainage patterns, or hydromodification. Hydromodification refers to changes in the magnitude and frequency of stream flows as a result of urbanization and the resulting impacts on the receiving channels in terms of erosion, sedimentation, and degradation of in-stream habitat. This can lead to indirect effects on communities and sensitive biological resources downstream in the watershed including the deposition of pollutants and sediment to the watershed outlets, an increase in polluted runoff to surface and groundwater receiving bodies, and an increase in the flood potential downstream.

are primarily located in the southern portion of the site. Wetlands are important features in the landscape that provide beneficial services for people, fish, and wildlife, Some of these benefits include improving water quality, flood protection, and providing habitats for fish and wildlife. Disturbed wetland areas are permanently or periodically inundated with water but have also been significantly modified by humans via artificial structures. An area of disturbed wetland including a lined ditch with a few scattered arroyo willows (Salix lasiolepis) and less than 2% cover of native species, including yerba buena (Anemopsis californicus) and rush (Juncus spp.) is found within the development site. The overall cover was dominated by non-native annual grasses and mustards. These areas have the potential to be classified as wetlands under the County Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO).

The Board of Supervisors finds that the unique topography, ecosystems, and natural characteristics of the County are fragile, irreplaceable resources that are vital to the general welfare of residents. Special controls on development must be established for the County’s steep slopes.

∙ Steep slopes having a natural gradient of 25% or greater are located throughout the project site.

∙ Discourage development on steep slopes and design development in a manner that minimizes encroachment onto steep slope lands.

∙ Respect the existing natural landform.

∙ Encourage property owners to hire a registered or licensed architect, landscape architect, engineering geologist, land surveyor, or civil engineer to conduct a slope analysis on their parcel to determine if it contains steep slopes.

∙ Ensure future discretionary applications conform to the County of San Diego’s Resource Protection Ordinance, specifically requirements pertaining to maximum encroachment allowance.

, twelve vegetation communities, have been mapped within the project area and are described below. With the exceptions of disturbed habitat and urban/developed, these communities are potential habitat for sensitive plant and animal species and are regarded as sensitive vegetation communities by the County.

Vegetation Communities

Vegetation Communities

Under CEQA, species are considered to be sensitive or have special status if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

∙ Species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], Title 50, Section 17.12 [listed plants]); 50 CFR 17.11 (listed animals); and various notices in the Federal Register (FR) (proposed species).

∙ Species that are candidates for possible future listing as threatened or endangered under the FESA.

∙ Species listed or proposed for listing by the State of California as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) (14 California Code of Regulations [CCR] 670.5).

∙ Plant species listed as rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act (NPPA; California Fish and Game Code [FGC] 1900 et seq.).

∙ Species that meet the definitions of “rare” or “endangered” under CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15380 and 15125).

∙ Animal species of special concern to the CDFW.

∙ Animals that are “fully protected” in California (FGC Sections 3511 [birds], 4700 [mammals], 5050 [amphibians and reptiles], and 5515 [fish]).

∙ Species listed as having a California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) of 1A (presumed extinct in California), 1B (rare, threatened, and endangered in California and elsewhere), or 2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere). CRPR List 1A, 1B, and 2 species are considered special-status plant species as defined in the NPPA, FGC Section 1901, the CESA FGC Sections 2050 through 2098, and CEQA Section 15380.

∙ Species considered CRPR 3 (plants for which more information is needed [a review list]) or CRPR 4 (plants of limited distribution [watch list]) (CNPS 2018). Many CRPR List 3 and List 4 species may not meet the definitions of special status as defined in the NPPA, FGC Section 1901, or the CESA, FGC Sections 2050 through 2098, but are strongly recommended for consideration under CEQA (CNPS 2001).

The County identifies sensitive plant species as either List A, B, C or D. Plants categorized as County List A species are plants that are rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. Plants categorized as County List B are rare, threatened or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere. County List C species are plants that may be rare, but more information is needed to determine their true rarity status. County List D species are of limited distribution and are uncommon, but not presently rare or endangered.

The County also identifies sensitive wildlife species as County Group 1 or 2. Group 1 species include those with a higher sensitivity and are listed as threatened or endangered, or have a natural history requirement that increases their sensitivity. Group 2 species include those that are becoming less common, although are not so rare that extinction is imminent without immediate action.

The table below lists the special-status plant and wildlife species that were identified to have a high potential to occur within the development boundary.

Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species

Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species

Special Status: FE = Federally Endangered, ST = State Threatened, SSC = CDFW Species of Special Concern, WL= CDFW Watch List, CDFW FP = CDFW Fully-Protected, CRPR = California Rare Plant Ranking. Group 1 and 2 = County of San Diego Sensitive Animal List; List A-B = County of San Diego Sensitive Plant List; BaGE Protection Act = Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Web Soil Survey, the soils within the development boundary are identified as Mottsville loamy coarse sand, 2 to 9% slopes (MvC); La Posta rocky loamy coarse sand, 5 to 30% slopes, eroded (LcE2); Mottsville loamy coarse sand, 0 to 2% slopes (MvA); and Calpine coarse sandy loam, 9 to 15% slopes eroded (CaD2) (USDA 2019). The soil erodibility rating of these soils range from “moderate” to “severe” as indicated by the Soil Survey for the San Diego Area, prepared by the USDA, Soil Conservation and Forest Service dated December 1973.

The Master Plan/Rezone area is not located in a fault rupture hazard zone identified by the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, Special Publication 42 (SP 42), Revised 1997, Fault-Rupture Hazards Zones in California, or within any other area with substantial evidence of a known fault. The project site is not located in a County Special Study Zone, which signifies late-Quaternary faults mapped by the California Geological Survey (CGS), formerly the California Division of Mines and Geology (DMG), that have been designated by the County (San Diego County 2007). Therefore, there would be no impact from the exposure of people or structures to adverse effects from a known fault-rupture hazard zone as a result of this project.

, most often caused by earthquakes, describes a phenomenon where a soil’s strength and stiffness is substantially reduced. Liquefaction causes the soil’s composition to liquefy, which disables buildings that are supported by the ground.

∙ The northeastern portion of the site has the potential for liquefaction. These areas are typically located in alluvial river valleys/basins and floodplains.

∙ Identify the potentially vulnerable areas for liquefaction and enforce stringent building codes that have been designed to reduce the vulnerability to liquefaction damage.

The Master Plan/Rezone area overlaps with a known historical resource. The Camp Lockett Rural Historic Landscape District was listed on the San Diego County Local Register of Historic Places (Local Register) on October 25, 2003. The property was further documented for a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) application in 2006, but the nomination was not approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). A 122-acre portion of the Master Plan area was also designated as CHL Number 1045 on October 30, 2009.

As part of this planning effort, an updated field survey and research effort of Camp Lockett was conducted in order to fill in gaps in the earlier investigations in the vicinity of the Historic District. As a result of this analysis, two technical reports were produced: the Cultural Resources Technical Report for the Camp Lockett Master Plan and Rezone, and the Camp Lockett Cultural Landscape Technical Report.

The Cultural Resources Technical Report largely focused on updating the National Register Nomination to reflect current site conditions but retained the district boundary and period of significance as they were outlined in previous documentation. The Cultural Landscape Technical Report identified a Cultural Landscape Area boundary that extended beyond and was inclusive of the Historic District boundary and included both buildings and landscape features associated with the development of Camp Lockett. The Cultural Landscape Technical Report retained the previously determined period of significance of 1941 to 1946. Examples of the types of landscape features that were identified in the Cultural Landscape Technical Report include historic-era land patterns, land use, roads, drainage, and signage.

The Cultural Resources Technical Report and the Cultural Landscape Technical Report evaluated different aspects of the resource and included different boundaries and lists of contributing features. Both reports considered together represent a holistic and complete

inventory of contributing elements of the historical resource known as Camp Lockett, and are used in combination to define the historical resource in this impacts analysis.

School services are provided by MEUSD, which encompasses over 660 square miles and includes: two Pre-K through 8th grade elementary schools; two Pre-K through 5th grade elementary schools; two 6th through 8th grade middle schools, including Camp Lockett Middle School (with an enrollment of 109 students) located approximately 0.3 mile west of the PSRM development boundary, at 31360 Highway 94, Campo CA; one high school; and an Alternative Education Program and Transition Program. Cottonwood Community Day School is located approximately 8 miles north of the development boundary and has a current enrollment of five students.

Law enforcement services are provided by San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD). The Campo Substation is located within the Master Plan area at 378 Sheridan Road.

Fire Service

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) maps areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These zones, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), define the application of various mitigation strategies to reduce risk associated with wildland fires.

∙ The project site is predominately located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), except for a small portion of Pacific Southwest Railway Museum’s (PSRM) northern parcel, which falls under the Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone (MFHSZ).

∙ Potential constraints associated with maintaining appropriate defensible space, fire protection requirements, etc.

∙ Ensure future development complies with Chapter 7A of the 2007 California Building Code. Check with local building department to determine which ignition resistant building codes apply to the project.

Existing fire protection services within the Master Plan and Rezone area are provided by San Diego County Fire Station 46 Campo, located adjacent to the PSRM and SYH entities. In the County of San Diego, proposed discretionary projects are required to undergo a review process in which County staff evaluates potential fire hazards using the County Guidelines for Determination of Significance and the Consolidated Fire Code. The applicable fire authority having jurisdiction is consulted on new projects along with the San Diego County Fire Authority. In all cases, a fire service availability form must be approved for fire services before a development project can be approved to ensure adequate fire protection services are available.

Existing recreational facilities within the Master Plan and Rezone area include the PCT— which travels through portions of the Master Plan and Rezone area and the development boundary—and the Campo Stone Store County Park north of the development boundary, adjacent to the Gaskill Stone Brothers Store within the MEHS entity. Lake Morena, located approximately 5.8 miles northwest of the Master Plan and Rezone area, is the closest regional park to the development boundary. The existing Chaffee Park, located within the MEUSD Planning Area, is one of the most popular gathering places for the community. Other recreational facilities like baseball fields are located throughout the site.

HAZARDS OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

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SOILS OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

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VEGETATION OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

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