Cottonwood Sand Mine
PDS2018-MUP-18-023; PDS2018-RP-18-001; Log No. PDS2018-ER-18-19-007; SCH# 2019100513
The Project includes a Major Use Permit (PDS2018-MUP-18-023) and a Reclamation Plan (PDS2018-RP-18-001).
The Cottonwood Sand Mining Project (Project) proposes the conversion of the existing Cottonwood Golf Club golf courses to a ten-year sand mining operation with an additional two-year reclamation period. Approximately 214.4 acres of the approximately 280-acre site are proposed for extractive use and restoration which would occur in a total of four phases. The extraction process would occur in three phases over the span of ten years and the cleanup, equipment removal, and final reclamation would occur in the fourth phase over two years. Areas included within the Project boundary that are not disturbed by mining would be subject to habitat improvement through removal of invasive species in the river channel (if necessary) or would be left in their current condition including the existing Sweetwater River channel. The project would make certain improvements to Willow Glen Drive prior to beginning mining operations. The Project’s mining operations would extract, process, and transport aggregate consisting primarily of sand suitable for Portland cement concrete. Approximately 4.3 million cubic yards (cy) (6.40 million tons) of material are proposed to be extracted, with approximately 3.8 million cy (5.7 million tons) produced for market use. Those materials undesirable for processing (approximately 427,000 cy) would be retained on site and utilized for backfilling. In addition, approximately 2.5 million cy would be imported to the site to meet the sites overall backfill requirements.
Sand excavation and processing would occur Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Trucking operations for material sales and backfill import would occur Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. There would be no processing of materials or trucking from the site on Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays. Reclamation of the site would include the removal of all artificial structures, grading to achieve final landforms, incorporation of accumulated wash fines, salvaged topsoil, and imported backfill materials, as well as revegetation and monitoring. The project requires a Major Use Permit (MUP) and Reclamation Plan (RP).
The project is located at 3121 Willow Glen Drive within the Valle De Oro Community Planning Area within the unincorporated area of San Diego County. The project site extends west to east from approximately 600 feet east of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Jamacha Road, to approximately 0.25 miles west of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Hillsdale Drive. Willow Glen Drive parallels the north side of the project site and Steele Canyon Road bisects the western portion of the site.
Recirculation of the Draft EIR
The Draft EIR for the Cottonwood Sand Mining Project was previously circulated for public review from December 16, 2021 to February 28, 2022. As a result of the public comments received from the circulation of the Draft EIR, changes were made to the project description and analysis of biological resource impacts. Specifically, new information regarding the need for additional soil import to achieve final reclamation elevations and the number of truck haul trips generated by the project to accommodate this import was added to the project description. New information regarding the potential for significant impacts to biological resources, the findings of additional biological surveys, and additional mitigation measures were added to the biological resources analysis.
Together, the Draft EIR and Recirculated Draft EIR identify significant environmental impacts to the following environmental factors: Aesthetics; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Noise, Paleontological Resources, and Tribal Cultural Resources. Impacts to Aesthetics, even with mitigation measures, would remain significant and unavoidable. All other potential significant impacts would be reduced to less than significant with implementation of mitigation measures.
The County requests that reviewers limit the scope of their comments to only the portions of the Draft EIR that have changed and are included in the Recirculated Draft EIR. Both comments from circulation of the Draft EIR (December 16, 2021 to February 28, 2022) and comments from circulation of the Recirculated Draft EIR will be included in the Final EIR.
For a complete discussion of the rationale for recirculation and guidance for commenters, refer to the “Recirculation Readers Guide” included at the beginning of the Recirculated Draft EIR.
Comments on the Recirculated Draft EIR must be received no later than August 14, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. (a 45-day public review period) either electronically through email or mailed to the address below. *The Public Review Period has been extended to August 21, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.* Comments must be sent to Planning & Developments Services, attn: Christopher Jacobs, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123 or emailed to christopher.jacobs@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Public Meeting
An in-person public meeting will be held on the Recirculated Draft EIR on July 25, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Hillsdale Middle School, 1301 Brabham Street, El Cajon, CA 92019. Please view the following resources associated with the virtual meeting.
Previous First Draft EIR Public Review Period (December 16, 2021 - February 14, 2022) Resources:
In-Person Meeting (CANCELLED)
The in-person public meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2022 from 7:00 P.M until 9:30 P.M. at the Hillsdale Middle School was cancelled.
Virtual Meeting
The online/phone-in public meeting/teleconference was held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Please view the following resources associated with the virtual meeting.
Project Contact: Chris Jacobs | Christopher.Jacobs@sdcounty.ca.gov | (619) 323-8718
RECIRCULATION OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD (June 29, 2023 - August 14, 2023)
*The Public Review Period has been extended to August 21, 2023*
In response to comments received from the circulation of the Draft EIR, revisions have been made to the Project Description (Chapter 1.0) and the Biological Resources analysis (Subchapter 2.2 and Appendix C) of the Draft EIR. Due to these additions and changes, the County is recirculating these two chapters for an additional 45-day public review and comment period. In addition, the Recirculated Draft EIR includes a summary chapter that details the scope of the Recirculated Draft EIR, supports the previously evaluated impact determinations, and summarizes the revisions to the Project Description and Biological Resources analysis. Also recirculated with this document is a Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) for Priority Development Projects (PDPs), which describes how the Project would comply with the applicable requirements of the County of San Diego Best Management Practices Design Manual and the County of San Diego Watershed Protection Ordinance. Pursuant to Section 15088.5(f)(2) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, reviewers of the Recirculated Draft EIR should limit their comments to the contents of this recirculated document only. The County requests that comments are provided on only the text included in the Recirculated Draft EIR. Comments on the Recirculated Draft EIR must be received no later than August 14, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. (a 45-day public review period) either electronically through email or mailed to the address below. Comments must be sent to Planning & Developments Services, attn: Christopher Jacobs, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123 or emailed to christopher.jacobs@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Chapter 1.0 - Project Description, Location, Environmental Setting
Subchapter 2.2 - Biological Resources
Compiled Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report
Appendix C - Biological Resources Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD (December 16, 2021 - February 14, 2022)
*The Public Review Period has been extended to February 28, 2022*
Public Notice/Legal Advertisement
Chapter 1.0 - Project Description, Location, and Environmental Setting
Chapter 2.0 - Significant Environmental Effects of the Proposed Project
2.7 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes Resultant from Project Implementation
Chapter 3.0 - Environmental Effects Found Not to be Significant
3.1.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3.1.4 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
3.1.5 Hydrology and Water Quality
3.1.7 Transportation and Traffic
3.2 Effects Found Not to be Significant During Initial Study
Chapter 4.0 - Project Alternatives
Chapter 5.0 - List of References
Chapter 6.0 - List of EIR Preparers and Persons and Organizations Contacted
Chapter 7.0 - List of Mitigation Measures and Project Design Features
TECHNICAL APPENDICES
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Multiple Species Conservation Program Conformance Statement
Reclamation Plan Part 2 - Attachment A - Plot Plan
Reclamation Plan Part 3 - Attachment B - Revegetation Plan
Reclamation Plan Part 4 - Attachment C - Soil and Geologic Reconnaissance
NOTICE OF PREPARATION INFORMATION
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD (October 24, 2019 - November 22, 2019)
The project seeks approval of a Major Use Permit (MUP) and Reclamation Plan to conduct a sand mining operation on 251 acres of an approximately 280-acre property that has been and is currently known as the Cottonwood Golf Club. Sand mining would occur on approximately 214 of the 251 acres. Approximately 4.8 million cubic yards (CY) (7.05 million tons) of material would be extracted and processed, with approximately 3.8 million CY (5.7 million tons) of marketable aggregate produced for sale over a 10-year period. Extraction operations would be limited to a maximum production of 380,000 CY (570,000 tons) of construction grade aggregate per calendar year. The project is located at 3121 Willow Glen Drive within the Valle De Oro Community Planning Area within the unincorporated area of San Diego County. The project site extends west to east from approximately 600 feet east of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Jamacha Road, to approximately 0.25 miles west of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Hillsdale Drive. Willow Glen Drive parallels the north side of the project site and Steele Canyon Road bisects the western portion of the site.
A public scoping meeting was held to solicit comments on the NOP documents on November 4, 2019 at 6:00 PM, at the Hillsdale Middle School, 1301 Brabham Street, El Cajon, CA 92019.
Public Scoping Meeting Handout from November 4, 2019 NOP Meeting
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