Ocean Breeze Ranch - Modified Project

PDS2023-TM-5615TER, PDS2024-MUP-16-012W1, PDS2024-STP-16-032W1 and PDS2024-ER-16-02-006B

The original Ocean Breeze Ranch project consisted of a 396 unit residential development with parks and an equestrian facility on 1,403 acres located at 5820 West Lilac Road and was approved by the San Diego County Planning Commission in December of 2019. The original Ocean Breeze Ranch project was processed in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 and the 15183 environmental checklist was previously circulated for public disclosure in 2019 for the approved project. The modified Ocean Breeze Ranch project (Modified Project) consists of a Revised Tentative Map, a Tentative Map Time Extension, Major Use Permit Modification, and Site Plan Modification. The Modified Project consists of changes to grading quantities, building pad elevations, and floor plan designs of units.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 requires focus on those impacts that are new or more severe than those analyzed in the County's General Plan Program EIR (i.e., peculiar impact of the project or project site). Therefore, a focused Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared for the project in order to address potential impacts to Crotch's bumble bee. An Addendum to the 2019 Biological Resources Technical Report (BRTR) for the Ocean Breeze Ranch Project (previously approved project) was prepared for the Modified Project (Appendix C; HELIX 2024). The purpose of this addendum is to document the existing biological conditions within the project site relative to Crotch’s bumble bee ( Bombus crotchii ), a candidate species under the CESA, and to provide an analysis of potential impacts to this species with respect to local, state, and federal policy, as applicable. At the time of the project’s original processing for project approval, Crotch’s bumble bee was not listed as a candidate species under CESA. Therefore, impacts to Crotch’s bumble bee were not analyzed for the previously approved project. The Addendum and the analysis herein focus solely on Crotch’s bumble bee. All other biological resources and other analyses and documentation required under CEQA for the project were previously conducted and approved by the County’s Planning Commission in December 2019. The minor modifications to the previously approved project are included in an updated 15183 Checklist for the project as an appendix to the Mitigated Negative Declaration addressing impacts related to Biological Resources and Crotch's bumble bee. The comments on the Modified Project and Mitigated Negative Declaration should be focused on the impacts related to Biological Resources and Crotch's bumble bee.

Comments on the proposed findings and associated analysis related directly to the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Biological Resources Report Addendum, and Crotch's bumble bee must be received no later than February 3, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. (a 32-day public review period).

Please direct any questions or formal comments to the project contact below.

Project Contact: Gregory Mattson | Gregory.Mattson@sdcounty.ca.gov | (619) 895-7177