Commentary: Why Poway’s Measure A is bad deal for residents

Don’t be fooled, Poway. Measure A proponents are using scare tactics and misleading marketing materials to rush you into passing a poorly drafted and poorly thought-out zoning change to StoneRidge Golf Course. Vote no on Measure A because the measure is all giveaway and no giveback for Poway and its residents.

Let’s look at the facts.

Measure A proponents have threatened that, if Measure A fails, StoneRidge will turn into Escondido Country Club, which is being developed into at least 200 hundred homes. This is false.

Related: Why Poway’s Measure A benefits property values

Escondido Country Club was already zoned residential when purchased by the developer. StoneRidge, on the other hand, is zoned “open space recreational” (OS-R). StoneRidge has been zoned OS-R for decades. The owner of StoneRidge cannot build a single home on the property — not now, not next year and not even after 2020.

The OS-R zoning gives Poway much more control over StoneRidge. We should use this control to more carefully consider what, if any, changes are necessary for it to be utilized by Poway.

Measure A proponents have also promised to provide a shortened golf facility (without a driving range) and a new clubhouse and restaurant if Measure A passes. These promises are illusory. These promises are not part of Measure A — just read it. There is nothing about a golf course or a clubhouse in the measure.

Anyone telling you otherwise is referring to a side agreement that is not part of Measure A. This side agreement was negotiated by a few golfers against a highly litigious Beverly Hills developer who does these deals all the time.

Which side do you think got the better bargain?

This flimsy three-page agreement has massive legal holes in it. It cannot be enforced by the city of Poway or its residents. The private company that signed it is a small limited liability corporation that has neither the wherewithal or financial resources to enforce the agreement, assuming it would even try. The company also appears to be beholden to the developer who has financed the entire campaign behind Measure A.

So there is no guarantee that these improvements will be built. Nor is there anything to prevent the owner from closing the golf facilities five, seven or 10 years after the 180 condos have been completed, even under the terms of the side agreement.

If the refurbished course is closed, Poway will be back in the same situation, except we will have lost 25 acres of land, a full-length golf course, practice range, tennis courts and swimming pool. Poway will also have 180 condominiums already built, and the entire southern two-thirds of the course will be zoned residential condominium.

In other words, Poway will have been fleeced by this aggressive developer who used a few panicked golfers to sell us a false bill of goods.

Measure A proponents also claim that Poway property values will go down if Measure A fails. There is no evidence to back this up and one could easily argue the opposite, as 180 high-density condos will certainly have a negative impact on the value of the houses near StoneRidge.

If we are going to fix StoneRidge (assuming it needs fixing), we should fix it correctly, permanently and in a legally binding fashion. The final agreement has to be properly negotiated and put on the ballot in a way that truly holds the developer accountable.

Poway should also consider less drastic options for StoneRidge. Such options include use as a park, public golf course or recreational facility created via eminent domain. Or the city can vote to rezone the property single-family residential, which is more in line with traditional Poway development.

Poway voters have already rejected less radical zoning changes such as a 200-room hotel on Maderas Golf Course. A 200-room hotel is less than one-third of the size of the 180 condominiums authorized by Measure A.

So I urge Poway residents to vote no on A. Don’t let this out-of-town developer and a few country club golfers bully Poway into bypassing the normal development process. Don’t be fooled by unenforceable promises of a new golf course or clubhouse. These things are not in Measure A. Measure A does nothing but destroy open space and give away local control of this useful and beautiful piece of property.

Edmonston practices intellectual property law and is a 17-year resident of Poway. For more information on opposition to Measure A, go to protectpoway.com.