Escondido Country Club - The Villages

What's Next

With Project approval on November 15, 2017, the Applicant will be seeking out the application of different permits to begin grading and construction on the Property. Please check back soon regarding the status of these different permits.

Project/Study Overview

The Villages - Escondido Country Club Project proposal consists of a General Plan Amendment to the Land Use Element, Zone Change, a Specific Plan, and a Tentative Map for a 380 single-family dwelling unit development project. The Project site in the northwest portion of the City of Escondido, along both sides of W Country Club Lane west of Nutmeg Street, at 1800 W Country Club Lane.

The proposed Project is located on a golf course that is no longer in operation. The existing land use map and zoning designation for the 109-acre site allows for single-family development, with a minimum lot size of 7,000 square feet. A General Plan amendment and Zone change request has been made to create a Specific Plan for this area, which will bring together detailed policies and tailored regulations for a focused development proposal. This includes innovative measures to preserve much of the open space system while allowing "clustered" development of the property. The new land uses proposed for the Villages Specific Plan Area include three single-family residential villages; an open space system; and a clubhouse area with recreational, social, and farm amenities.

How the City is Reviewing the Application

Escondido plans and regulates the use of land to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of our community. There are many ways to regulate and implement land use, such as through a general plan, zoning map, and zoning code, along with the subdivision code and design review guidelines. Existing area- or site-specific regulations may also be created for a property, including a Specific Plan. Because the use of land is regulated, the City must review all projects against this policy and regulatory framework before any buildings can be constructed.

To ensure that the site-specific solutions are implemented for the Escondido Country Club site, new draft zoning standards and design guidelines were prepared in the form of a Specific Plan. As proposed by the Project applicant, the Specific Plan consists of new zoning standards and design guidelines. Zoning standards define the allowable uses and bulk or scale of development, while design guidelines address the appearance and quality of development.

An Initial Study was prepared for the project in accordance with Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines. Based on the results of the Initial Study, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared to address potential direct and cumulative impacts associated with air quality, aesthetics, biological resources, cultural resources/tribal resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology/water quality, land use and planning, noise, public services, transportation/traffic and utilities and services. With this review complete, a Final EIR was prepared and presented to the decision-makers to review and consider, along with the Project proposal.

What is Needed from the Public

With the Project complete and approved by local decision-makers, we are seeking out ways to keep the community aware of how the Applicant is processing post-entitlement applications, such as a Final Map, Street Improvement Drawings, and building permits. To learn more about the permit review process, and the current status of the Project, or to offer input, please contact Veronica Morones, City Planner, at 760-839-4548, or email Veronica Morones.