Report: No real impact by ‘The Farm’

A draft Environmental Impact Report on a 140-home development proposed on the former Stoneridge Country Club property concludes the project would “not result in any significant and unavoidable impacts.”

At more than 1,000 pages, including technical appendices, the draft EIR will be the subject of a 45-day public review period. It will be available at poway.org. One hard copy will be available for public inspection at the Development Services Department at City Hall.

Known as “The Farm in Poway,” the proposed development includes 140 homes of various types and sizes, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, a wine and beer garden, a butterfly vivarium and educational center, dog park, tot lot, fitness center with a pool and tennis and pickleball courts, and a trail system. The fitness center will be membershipbased while the balance of the proposed amenities will be open to the public.

Forty-seven percent of the 117.2 acres will be designated as open space, with some of that area used for commercial agricultural purposes. About 34 acres will be used for homes. Housing densities will range between 2.5 and 10.7 units per acre.

The draft EIR was prepared by a consultant selected by the city without input from developer Kevin Mcnamara or his partners. They will, however, be responsible for paying the bill, which Mcnamara estimates will be $250,000.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the draft EIR and send questions or comments to the city. All issues raised during the comment period are required by the state to be addressed in the final EIR. That document will be released for public review at least 14 days prior to a public hearing that will be scheduled before the City Council. The council will be reviewing that report, along with a project-related General Plan amendment, zoning amendment and specific plan. Ultimately, the project will be placed before city voters — probably in November — under terms of the city’s Proposition FF.