BLACK MOUNTAIN RANCH MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN 

The Master Development Plan for the entire Black Mountain Ranch Sub Area consisted of 5400 dwelling units, including Santaluz and Shea’s Verrazzano. 

Phase I (Santaluz and membership golf course) 

Phase II (South Village) adjacent to Santaluz. It was originally planned for this area to be mainly residential with some commercial. Shea Homes now owns this Verrazzano residential and commercial development. 

Phase II (North Village, North Cluster, West Cluster, and East Cluster) Now referred to as “Black Mountain Ranch”, this phase includes: 

By Spring or Summer 2005, the “Ten Million Dollar Bridge” and entry point (on Camino Del Sur north of the San Dieguito Road intersection) will be in, including all utilities. At this time, buyers of Black Mountain Ranch properties will access the development from the south on Camino Del Sur. The current plan is for there to be a barricade on Camino Del Sur, above the entry point to Black Mountain Ranch, preventing passageway to Camino Del Norte and Highway 15 until 2008-2011. According to the Senior Traffic Engineer with the City of San Diego, by the end of 2004, the city will be doing additional traffic studies and considering the feasibility of altering the Transportation Phasing Plan to eliminate the barricade sooner than 2008. 

The North Village will be built first. The last phase, consisting of the East, West and North Clusters, will include single-family residential projects with larger lots (see attached “Dwelling Unit Allocation” piece). 

The first set of 650 homes (single family detached) is expected to be initiated in 2005 in the North Village near the proposed elementary school site. There is a Transportation Phasing Plan Requirement that will have an impact on the progress of the project. For example, prior to the first set of homes being sold, SR 56 must be open and the four lanes of Carmel Valley Road (west of Camino Del Sur) must be “assured.” Before the last phase of this development is available, the HOV Lanes on Highway 15, from SR56 to Lake Hodges, must be assured. It is estimated that the entire project will be completed by 2012. Homes will be built by Standard Pacific Builders and other guest builders.
What IS different about Black Mountain Ranch?
The Outcome...... a project that is heralded by those friendly to development, and many of those opposed, as an exemplary product of good planning. The project is what's called "smart growth" and a "sustainable development." It sets a benchmark in San Diego for "green building” practices that embody respect for the environment. Among the requirements for Del Sur builders; 20 percent of the homes must incorporate solar energy; only energy efficient appliances may be installed: homes must incorprate natural ventilation systems; and non toxic materials must be used.
When completed, Del Sur will have 2581 single family attached and detached houses and 469 affordable apartments and homes, the latter for families earning below the median-income level. Prices for single-family residences will start at about $600,000 and top out at around $1.5 million. A 500,000 square foot business park will be built, and another 200,000 square feet added for retail space. A 300 room hotel and an 18-hole public golf course are planned as are two schools and a fire station.
The community will have two transit centers and a van pool program lined to express buses planned for interstate 15.
Neighborhoods are clustered around village greens, and the architecture reminiscent of homes found in Mission Hills. Nearly, 1,100 acres-about 60 percent of the development-are dedicated to open space.
Two 800-foot parallel bridges are under construction-one north, one south-on Camino Del Sur, the community's main road. The structures cross what's basically a "critter corridor" an open -space connection between San Dieguito River Part and Black Mountain Regional Open Space Park.
 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

Black Mountain Ranch lies entirely within the boundaries of the City of San Diego and consists of 4,677 acres of land located south of Santa Fe Valley and adjoining the communities of Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Peñasquitos. 

Southern portions of the property are characterized by gently rolling hills, which ascend from the edge of Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch to the base of Black Mountain, a local landmark. This distinctive setting presents views of Del Mar and the Pacific Ocean. 

Northern portions of the property consist of a relatively flat mesa, promontories of which overlook a broad central plain known as La Jolla Valley. 

Approximately one-quarter of Black Mountain Ranch lies within the planning area of the proposed San Dieguito River Park. When assembled, the San Dieguito River Park will extend from Del Mar on the coast to Volcan Mountain more than fifty miles inland. 

Black Mountain Ranch will provide a critical link between the proposed San Dieguito River Park and the City's existing Black Mountain Regional Park, providing public access in the area for the first time. In addition, this linkage will preserve approximately 1,760 acres of existing and enhanced habitat, including protection of key wildlife corridors as part of the City's Environmental Tier and Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). 

RESOURCE-BASED PLANNING 

The planning of Black Mountain Ranch began with the preparation of a detailed inventory of sensitive lands. This inventory was rigorously compiled in the field and later digitized for the City's use in mapping the Environmental Tier. While most of the property has been disturbed by past ranching and agricultural uses--uses no longer economically viable--many important biological and landform resources remain.  

This resource-based planning has resulted in the proposed retention of no less than sixty percent of the land as permanent open space. Approximately 1,760 acres of this open space will be set aside for the San Dieguito River Park. An extensive system of horseback riding, bicycle, and pedestrian trails will provide public access to this important conservation area. In addition, approximately, 1,060 acres of private open space will be permanently protected by restrictive easements. This area will include active recreation uses, such as golf courses, and private open space areas. Public neighborhood and community parks will add 50 acres to the open space system for a total open space system in excess of 2,870 acres. 

WORLD CLASS GOLF 

Black Mountain Ranch will include two 18-hole world-class golf courses, which have been designed to meet the requirements of the PGA TOUR. Nationally renowned architects Rees Jones, Robert Weed, Chris Grey and Johnny Miller have done preliminary routing plans. Rees Jones provided final design plans for the recently completed South Golf Course, now named Santaluz.  

The southern "hills" course is oriented to the Santaluz residential community and the northern "valley" course will be open to the general public on a daily fee basis. The golf courses and other major landscape areas will be irrigated from a system of lakes or reservoirs fed by reclaimed water provided by the City of San Diego. 

A 20-acre resort hotel or lodge is proposed in association with the "valley" golf course located at the foot of Black Mountain in La Jolla Valley. This 300-room facility will serve as a destination resort/conference facility. Its location will also make it a destination for people using the San Dieguito River Park open space and trail system. 

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

As a consequence of the development of Black Mountain Ranch, a number of benefits will accrue to the City and the entire San Diego region. These include the following: 

Request my Free Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar Heights, and Santa Luz Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar Heights, and Santa Luz, California area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out... 

Rancho Santa Fe Mortgage and Loan Advisor