The Democrats of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on Wednesday opposing the proposed annexation of Otay Ranch Village 13 into the city of Chula Vista, despite the project’s approval by the county last November. The housing development, which covers 1,869 acres of unincorporated land, includes almost 2,000 homes, parks, trails, open space, and a fire station and sheriff’s substation. It also features a 16-acre resort site with a 200-room hotel.
The Board’s decision, made in response to concerns over public safety and fire protection, contradicts the unanimous vote of the Chula Vista City Council in favor of the annexation resolution last November. The move has exposed a rift among local Democrats, as the Board’s decision went against the request of the city’s elected officials.
The County officials argued that the annexation would endanger public safety by delaying the construction of new fire and sheriff’s stations and reducing the level of service. They also claimed that the annexation would create an isolated island of the city within the county’s unincorporated area, which would complicate regional growth management. The opposition of the firefighters’ union and Cal Fire Union 2881 to the annexation further bolstered the County’s case.
However, the property owners behind the project, Baldwin and Sons and Moller Otay Lakes Investments, have disputed the County’s claims and requested a continuance to further discuss the issue with county leaders before the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) reviews it. The LAFCO is a political subdivision responsible for providing regional growth management services for California’s counties, and its members include local elected and appointed officials, such as Supervisor Nora Vargas and San Diego City Council member Stephen Whitburn.
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