The PQ-NE Action Group was formed as a community nonprofit organization in 2007 to represent the interests of northeast Rancho Peñasquitos, an area targeted by the City of San Diego for significant redevelopment. Below is a timeline of our efforts over the years.
02/06/2007
The Doubletree Golf Resort (owned by Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors) unveiled a plan to redevelop the 127-acre property with 200 single-family homes, a smaller hotel, parks, open space and other community amenities. Before a large crowd at a Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board meeting, the revelation ended a nearly two-year wait to hear what the owner had in mind for the property. Company representatives had virtually no wait, though, before residents began heavily criticism of the proposal.
06/06/2007
Our group asked neighbors to share their thoughts about the proposed plans to redevelop the Doubletree Golf Resort, and nearly 300 attended the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board meeting where the owners presented their plan to redevelop the golf course into 200 homes.
2007
Completed in 2011
The PQ-NE Action Group worked with the City of San Diego and the developers to restructure Cresta Bella, an apartment complex at the corner of Peñasquitos Drive and Carmel Mountain Road, from 1,000+ apartments into a 368-unit, architecturally pleasing housing project.
2011
06/25/2014
A representative from The Laurus Corporation made presentations at the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board Land Use Committee and Regular Meeting. They are going to remodel/update the Doubletree starting September 2014, which is expected to take four-five months. The golf course will be shut down in 9-12 months. A representative from Lewis Operating Corp., whom the Laurus Corporation hired to look into how best to repurpose/develop the golf course land, noted he wants to create an Ad-Hoc committee within the PQ Planning Board which would also include members of the community to discuss potential options for redeveloping the golf course. The PQ-NE Action Group Board members and other neighbors spoke and let them know that they don’t want the land developed and don’t want the golf course closed.
12/03/2014
At the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board Meeting, Laurus Corporation representatives informed the Chair and Vice-Chair that they will not participate in the Ad-Hoc Committee meetings until the golf course is closed, which could happen before March 31. Without their participation, the Ad-Hoc Committee meetings have been canceled indefinitely and may take on a different look if and when the ownership decides to engage RPPB and the community in the future. There has been no direct communication with the community, the golf course's neighbors, who will be impacted by this new information.
2014
02/03/2016
During the Pacific Village presentation at RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting, Lennar's representatives reported that they have submitted their project application to the City. Their proposed project is a redevelopment of the 41-acre rental complex (currently 332 units) with the following residential units.
• For Sale Homes ($500,000-$600,000+):
• 99 Detached Homes with 4 bedrooms (1,787 to 2,025 sq. ft.)
• 105 Triplex Homes with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms (1,324 to 1,898 sq. ft.)
• 120 Townhomes with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms (1,491 to 2,034 sq. ft.)
• For Rent, Market Rate Apartments:
• 240 Apartment Homes with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms
05/04/2016
The Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board meeting announced that owners of the Carmel Highland Golf Course (which closed in 2015) have a new development partner: 33 North Development Group, LLC. If Laurus Corp wants to develop the land they will be required to initiate an amendment to the PQ Community Plan which would need to be approved by the PQ Planning Board in order to begin the review process of any proposed redevelopment of the golf course.
07/06/2016
Lennar Homes and Atlantic Pacific gave a presentation about Pacific Village at RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting, including the site plan and architectural renderings of the proposed project. They are asking for a height deviation for the townhomes and the three-story apartments which will be closest to I-15. These exceed the 30-foot height limit by 6 feet, but it was noted that due to the stepped down nature of the property and lower profile roof designs, those heights will be less noticeable from Carmel Mountain Road and surrounding neighborhoods. They reported that City staff are supporting the deviation.
08/01/2016
The Junipers Project #586670—to be built on golf course land formerly owned by the Laurus Corporation—was sold to 33North Development Group.
9/28/2016
Over 150 neighbors were in attendance at the PQ-NE Action Group community presentation where they learned about the mission of PQ-NE and the history of the area’s Community Plan. The golf course property is deemed designated open space in our Community Plan and we want to keep it that way! We will develop an action plan with the community to fight the new golf course owners (33North Development Group) and make sure there are no approved amendments to our community plan to allow development of our open space!
11/02/2016
The Pacific Village development team gave a presentation during RPPB's Land Use Committee Meeting. Here is a quick rundown of project changes they mentioned: They have decided to include 28 income restricted apartments (10% Affordable) instead of paying the in-lieu of fee. Total of 277 apartment units. The proposed redevelopment is 601 total units. The initial traffic study for the project increases Average Daily Trips (ADTs) by 1,800 trips per day on Carmel Mtn.
2016
02/06/2019
Lennar gave an update on the Junipers project's parks and open space at RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting. They also noted that they would give additional presentations covering design/architecture, circulation and fire/evacuation at the next three Land Use Committee meetings.
03/06/2019
Lennar gave project updates at the RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting. They covered details about the Junipers project's design/architecture and reviewed the parks/open space presentation from the February meeting.
03/21/2019
Lennar Homes is currently building Pacific Villages, previously the site of Peñasquitos Villages apartment homes. This redevelopment is For Sale (market rate) attached and detached single family housing units and an apartment complex located between I-15/SR-56 and Carmel Mtn. Rd. (behind the new Floor & Decor Store). See Times of San Diego article.
03/28/2019
First in a series of workshops conducted by Lennar in conjunction with San Diego Parks Department to develop the General Development Plan for the Neighborhood Park in the Junipers project to be located where the tennis courts are currently.
05/01/2019
Lennar presented Circulation/Traffic Plan for the Junipers at RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting. Lennar is proposing two roundabouts or traffic circles on Peñasquitos Drive at Janal Way and at Cuca Street. They are also proposing an ingress (with emergency exit) from Carmel Mtn. Rd. between Peñasquitos Drive and the I-15 off ramp via a new and separate (from existing) right turn lane.
06/05/2019
At the RPPB Land Use Committee Meeting we had over 30 neighbors show up in opposition to the Junipers. The meeting’s focus was on Safety and Fire Evacuation. Mike Huff from Dudek presented the Juniper’s Project fire evacuation plan, stating that the Glens neighborhood will be safer once the Junipers Development is built since their new evacuation plans included an exit route at the north end of Andorra Way with a remote operated gate (instead of the current same exit with bollards), as well as a new fire exit from the Junipers going directly on to Carmel Mountain Road. Eddie Villavicencio, the Assistant Fire Marshal for the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department then spoke for about 20 minutes. He stated that the proposed 'exit' at the north end of Andorra was not currently classified as an emergency exit, nor can it be by law. (It is not wide enough.) This “exit” is ONLY to be used as an entry for fire and emergency vehicles during an emergency, it cannot be used as an exit for the community.
12/31/2019
The Hotel Karlan (formerly the Doubletree) closed, to be replaced with Millennium PQ Project #644431—another redevelopment project. The land owners, RPK Hotels LLC and The Dinerstein Companies, are planning to build 331-luxury apartments. It is our understanding that the City of San Diego is processing their application without input from the community as is required to amend the Community Plan.
2019
02/03/2021
Important virtual meeting: Lennar will provide a presentation for the Junipers project to review and discuss the project and final EIR comments. Nearly four years of effort to develop the former Carmel Highland Doubletree Golf Course culminates at this meeting when the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board will vote whether to approve or disapprove Lennar's development plan. From there, approved or disapproved, the project moves on to the San Diego City Planning Commission.
05/02/2021
The San Diego City Planning Commission held a virtual public hearing to recommend to the City Council approval, conditional approval or denial of an application for the development of the Junipers, Lennar’s proposed project featuring 536 homes and apartments. Despite valid opposition comments during the meeting that included concerns about fire evacuation, traffic congestion, danger due to one exit, loss of green space and so much more, the Commissioners voted to send the project to the City Council for permitting.
06/04/21
The Junipers will be on the agenda at the June 15 San Diego City Council hearing, led by our District 5 City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert. Councilmembers will determine whether to permit Lennar’s proposed project featuring 536 homes and apartments on the former Doubletree Golf Course. Please join us in voicing your worries and fears by writing TODAY to Councilmember Marni von Wilpert.
06/15/2021
Today the City Council permitting hearing was held for the 536-unit Junipers project. Prior to the hearing, we met with each Councilmember and their staffs, sharing our community’s concerns about wildfire evacuation risks, the cumulative impacts of new major projects in the area, as well as general traffic congestion. We also presented during the hearing as a recognized opposition organization, along with the Sierra Club. We requested the City Council NOT to permit the Junipers with the current project plan, which was based on flawed data. Despite a valiant effort, Lennar Homes triumphed with the Council’s vote to permit the project.
08/06/21
On behalf of the community, today the PQ-NE Action Group filed a lawsuit to mitigate the Junipers project’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and community plan issues. Northeast Rancho Peñasquitos has already seen a substantial increase in housing density from hundreds of apartments, townhomes and houses permitted during the past two years by the City.
10/05/21
The PQ-NE Action Group created a marketing campaign to place 4,000 door hangers on every house, townhome, condo and apartment in northeast Rancho Peñasquitos noting, “Your opinion is important” and encouraging residents to complete a brief survey. Social media posts were employed to generate awareness of the survey, and a link to the survey was featured on the homepage of Savepq.org. Following are key questions and responses related to the Junipers project that confirm we are representing the community’s needs and concerns.
• Q1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: There should be a second, two-way permanent road in northeast Rancho Peñasquitos for safety during fire evacuations and to mitigate traffic congestion. 76.77% Strongly agree
• Q2 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The Junipers developer must be required to construct a roundabout at Peñasquitos Drive/Cuca Street before the Millennium PQ apartments open next year. 67.31% Strongly agree
• Q3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:
A 2.87-acre public park is not enough green space in exchange for the 112-acre former golf course where The Junipers will be built. 77.56% Strongly agree
• Q4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Mature trees must be maintained and/or planted along the 1-15 freeway for noise abatement and other environmental reasons. 76.28% Strongly agree
• Q5 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: With the significant increase to our area’s housing density, the City of San Diego must assess fire and police responses and upgrade facilities to accommodate additional residents. 85.90% Strongly agree
2021
2009
10/01/2009
A Florida-based firm officially started construction on the $44 million Cresta Bella project, a 368-unit apartment complex in Rancho Peñasquitos. The company originally proposed to build 1000+ units but backed off when the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board—thanks to PQ-NE Action Group’s efforts—voiced concerns about traffic, and the developers realized how difficult it would to change the community plan.
2010
01/19/2010
Doubletree management notified the PQ-NE Action Group and the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board of plans to remodel the hotel and update the amenities of the property at a cost of approximately $2 Million.
2013
Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company's subsidiary Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors sold the Doubletree Golf Resort to SD Golf Resort Partners LLC, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Laurus Corp. Hilton/Doubletree will continue to run the operation for them.
04/03/2013
The CEO of the Laurus Corporation spoke at the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board Land Use Committee Meeting about "re-purposing the resort" especially the Carmel Highland Golf Course (formerly known as the Doubletree Golf Course), which is losing $500,000 a year.
05/03/2013
NBC Channel 7 News interviewed PQ-NE Action Group board member Pam Logemann on camera about the Doubletree plans to repurpose the golf course with 400 residential units, parks and trails. The nonprofit board wants to represent all our neighbors regarding this new land development plan in our neighborhood.
5/14/2013
The Laurus Corporation would need to initiate a Community Plan amendment to change the use or designation of the Carmel Highland Golf Course property. They would need to apply for a Site Development permit and present plans to be reviewed by City Staff who will determine what environmental reports/studies will be required.
2015
03/31/2015
The Carmel Highland Golf Course closed, becoming a focal point of discussion among our neighbors. Of key concern: The high-density housing project planned on the 115-acre site would increase northeast PQ residents’ risk during a wildfire evacuation. This area is the only Rancho Peñasquitos community with just one exit. The PQ-NE Action Group became very visible safety advocates for our neighbors—attending meetings, holding town halls and speaking with the media.
06/03/2015
Lennar Homes gave a presentation on their new development, Pacific Village located on Carmel Mountain Road, at the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board Land Use Committee Meeting. Atlantic Pacific has entered into a partnership with Lennar to develop this property which will include 330 units for sale (cluster homes, triplexes and townhomes) and 240 apartments. They may have to amend the Community Plan to modify the community housing variety for the Village.
2018
03/15/2017
At the Community Open House hosted by 33 North Development, they shared that their preliminary conceptual vision is for a new age-qualified (55+) residential neighborhood of primarily single-story homes that incorporates community benefits for the entire Glens neighborhood. The draft proposal provided only one way out of the development; all traffic would be dumped on to Peñasquitos Drive at Janal Way via a traffic light from the development on a new road that would replace the current tennis courts. In addition, 33 North is proposing access into this new community from a new road that would be constructed between the 15 freeway off-ramp and Peñasquitos Drive directly off Carmel Mountain Road. See Open House materials.
03/23/2017
33 North releases their plans for the shuttered Carmel Highland Golf Course property. Make a public comment at the RP Planning Board meeting April 5. Just fill out a speaker card at the start of the meeting and voice your concerns.
04/05/2017
33 North Development is on the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board's Land Use Committee (LUC) Meeting agenda where they presented the materials on the new age-qualified (55+) residential neighborhood they shared at the Open House on March 15. The community had a chance to ask questions and voice their opinion on 33 North's vision for the golf course property.
05/03/2017
33 North received approval from the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board to Initiate a Community Plan Amendment for their new age-qualified (55+) residential neighborhood. Next step is to go before the San Diego Planning Commission requesting approval of the Initiation. That will allow the City to begin evaluating environmental impacts that would be caused by developing the golf course for the alternative use proposed by 33 North. There are speaker slips that you will need to fill out to voice your opinion on the proposed Initiation to Amend the Rancho Peñasquitos Community Plan.
05/08/2017
The City has distributed the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for Pacific Village, Project No. 470158. Comments must be received by May 31, 2017 per the notice.
06/08/2017
33North Development Group received approval to Initiate a Community Plan Amendment from the Planning Commission. This begins the evaluation of revising the Community Plan and the impacts of their proposed golf course project concept.
08/05/2017
Pacific Village received approval from RPPB for their proposed project with conditions. Next step, Lennar goes before the Planning Commission for approval.
08/28/2017
33 North Development held their first in a series of charrettes or focus groups to gather input on community character for the Junipers project. Participants rated an assortment of photos representing aesthetic element categories architectural style, landscaping, slopes and fencing, streetscape and monumentation. The majority of the attending community members said they are not in favor of developing the land.
09/13/2017
A park charrette as part of the Junipers project was held with approximately 50 attendees. The attendees were asked to put green dots on their top six park amenities from the list provided before the charrette began. After a quick review of the list rankings there was a brief discussion about parks in general, a quick description of the future amenities at Rolling Hills Park with the renovation, and types of potential activities and uses of the space. The size and shape were the same as 33 North presented at their open house, located on page 12 of the OpenHouse materials.
09/26/2017
PQ-NE Action Group circulated the SAFETY BEFORE DEVELOPMENT Petition regarding the former Doubletree Golf Course/Designated Open Space. Please sign our petition and comment.
2020
01/10/2020
For more than a year, residents have been fighting against plans to redevelop the 11-acre space of the closed The Hotel Karlan and its attached golf course at Carmel Mountain Road and Penasquitos Drive, which are also two main roads for freeway access. The SAVE PQ action group said they’re just asking for the city to listen. Channel 8 News interviews PQ Glens community members about the closure of the Hotel Karlan and the proposed housing development for that 14-acre site. To view video, click here.
01/15/2020
Update on Millenium PQ Project #644431—concept drawings for the Hotel Karlan parcel were found online & quickly removed by design firm but we did capture the plot plan. Development concept
01/17/2020
Channel 10 News interviews PQ Glens community members about their concerns about runaway development in Rancho Peñasquitos. New projects will add nearly 1,500 residences in our area—impacting safety, schools, and police and fire departments/personnel. To view video, click here.
02/19/2020
The Junipers Project draft EIR has been posted and needs your attention! San Diego City DSD published the Public Notice of draft Environmental Report (EIR) for the Junipers Project No. 586670.
05/13/2020
The PQ-NE Action Group filed a lawsuit against RPK Hotel, LLC challenging the approval of the 331-unit Millennium PQ apartment project that was permitted via the City of San Diego’s ministerial review, without public input. Key issues
Reckless redevelopment of a parcel specifically designated in the community plan for community use, into a high-density residential complex; and no traffic studies and no fire safety studies. The City of San Diego left us no choice but to files a suit.
12/01/2020
The PQ-NE Action Group was so concerned about the redevelopment of the Hotel Karlan property that we filed a suit against the City of San Diego in May 2020. Once we had filed this suit over matters concerning the Millennium PQ development, we were approached by the owners of that development in reference to our concerns. The new owners of the property were receptive to some of the safety and other concerns of our neighborhood and expressed a willingness to assist us in addressing these issues. Their offered level of support was finally sufficient that PQ-NE agreed to drop our lawsuit against the City. Read more here.
2023
01/09/2023
Join us Jan. 13, 2023 for PQ-NE Action Group v. City of San Diego. PQ-NE asked the City of San Diego for full analysis and mitigation of the Junipers project’s significant impacts—especially to fire safety—given the community’s history of bottle-necked evacuations on Carmel Mountain Road; the City’s failure to implement the Community Plan’s planned second, permanent, independent exit despite the recent unanticipated doubling of the community size; and inadequate Project Evacuation Plan.
01/11/2023
UPDATE on court hearing:
PQ-NE Action Group's lawsuit against the City of San Diego has been postponed by the judge, Honorable Ronald F. Frazier, from Friday 1/13/23 to Thursday 2/2/23 at 1:30 pm due to trial conflict.
02/07/2023
We won! In a final ruling, Superior Court Judge Ronald Frazier ruled the Junipers’ Environmental Impact Report flawed and halted construction, noting that the project had failed to account for two large nearby housing projects. Henullified an analysis of how the Junipers would affect nearby traffic, noise and wildfire threats, saying it had failed to account for two large nearby housing projects. Read the San Diego Union-Tribune story
Ruling stops work on housing project.
02/24/23
The PQ-NE Action Group received support from the Sierra Club and others with regard the group's lawsuit against the City of San Diego citing CEQA violations and flaws in the Environmental Impact Report for Junipers by Lennar Homes (specifically safety during a wildfire evacuation). Opinion
California environmental laws are essential to meet housing and climate goals
07/05/2023
THE JUNIPERS UPDATE:
The Junipers is a 536-unit development planned in northeast Rancho Peñasquitos. On behalf of the community, the nonprofit PQ-NE Action Group filed a lawsuit to mitigate the project’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and community plan issues. In February 2023, Superior Court Judge Ronald Frazier ruled the Junipers’ environmental impact report flawed and halted construction, noting that the project had failed to account for two large nearby housing projects. The PQ-NE Action Group and Lennar Homes asked the judge to stay his issuance of a final judgement in the case so that a settlement can be negotiated.
08/16/2023
After months of negotiation discussions, a settlement agreement was reached with regard to the Junipers project. The agreement includes the following actions by Lennar Homes and Carmel Land LLC in pursuit of a safer environment for residents of northeast Rancho Peñasquitos.
• Construct a roundabout at the intersection of Cuca Street and Peñasquitos Drive;
• Apply for an additional residential road and a full-sized, code-compliant emergency access road out of northeast Rancho Peñasquitos and construct these roads if approved;
• Increase the size of the park area in the Junipers project that will be open to all residents;
• Plant an additional 93 mature trees to provide a screen against noise and emissions from the nearby freeway, at agreed-upon locations on the Junipers site; and
• Provide funding for the purchase and placement of evacuation equipment storage sheds in northeast Rancho Peñasquitos.
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