San Dieguito River Valley seat to be added to Carmel Valley planning board

By Karen Billing

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board voted July 25 in favor of adding a new seat to the board to give a representing voice for the remaining city jurisdiction areas in the San Dieguito River Valley and Sub-Area II community.

The area includes Flower Hill Promenade; communities along Via de la Valle, such as Santa Fe Downs; and neighborhoods around the San Diego Polo Field and Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, south of San Dieguito Road and west of Rancho Diegueno Road.

“For many years we were the default planning group for those areas because there was no planning group for those areas,” board chair Frisco White said. “This is not so much a land grab, it’s just officially being recognized as the planning group for those areas and having a resident become a part of the process.”

The map for the new area will need to be finalized and the board will need to revise its bylaws to be approved by the San Diego City Council. The planning board chair would appoint someone who meets the necessary qualifications to serve on the new seat initially and then an election for the seat would be held in March.