Sierra Club, citing fire risks and ‘textbook sprawl’ of Harmony Grove project, sues to stop it
Homes in the Harmony Grove Village district in Escondido File photo by Zo Meyers inewsource The Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit challenging the modern approval of the Harmony Grove Village South maturation based on its expected fire risks The environmental organization argues in the suit filed last Friday that the planned neighborhood in North County will be located in a high fire-risk area with only one evacuation trail in the event of a wildfire The scenario is the latest challenge to the -acre project approved Oct by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors over the objections of a multitude of residents who already live in the area The location is a little less than one mile west of the city of Escondido south and east of San Marcos and north of the Del Dios Highlands Preserve Plans include residential units square feet of commercial civic space four acres of private and population parks two miles of multi-use trails and pathways and approximately acres of open space The project s opponents which include certain residents of the Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove communities say the advance should a wildfire spark could force as various as extra vehicles on a single two-lane road leading out of the area The Sierra Club further alleges that the additional vehicles will contribute to excessive greenhouse gas emissions The Harmony Grove project is textbook sprawl growth within a high fire-risk area Sierra Club Legal Chair Dave Hogan reported He went on to say that Harmony Grove Village South conflicts with the Board of Supervisors own agenda for sustainable enhancement as covered in the County Circumstances Action Plan and further that the project exposes surrounding communities to dangerous fire conditions According to the Sierra Club the progress also is hampered by an outdated environmental survey The county s fresh approval of Harmony Grove relies on an Environmental Impact Analysis that fails to account for new state and county regulations including updated standards for truck miles traveled greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire safety stated Isabella Coye an attorney for the Sierra Club The law she continued requires a comprehensive and updated environmental review that fully addresses these considerable impacts and ensures transparency for the residents and decision makers
