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Development proposed in rural Elfin ForestKATHERINE MARKSStaff Writer SAN MARCOS ---- A proposal to build 260 homes on 69 acres in Elfin Forest and then have the land annexed to San Marcos has angered residents of the unincorporated area who feel the development will harm the community's character. "We've been trying forever to keep this area rural," said Evelyn Alemanni, the director of the Elfin Forest Town Council. "Needless to say we have some pretty big issues," Alemanni said Monday. The homes would be about the 3,400-home San Elijo Hills project to the north and west and would not be built until roads and other infrastructure in the larger development were finished, said Jim Simmons, a local consultant for the project. "It fits into a corner in the San Elijo development," Simmons said. The developer, Irvine-based Pulte Home Corporation, will present plans Thursday to build the 260 homes north and south of Questhaven Road; the presentation will be made at a public workshop. The workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Services Building at 3 Civic Center Drive. Public workshops are informational in nature and no decisions will be made. Simmons and representatives of Pulte met with Alemanni and other residents Monday night to discuss the proposal before the workshop. Elfin Forest residents have already spoken out against the project. "We've talked to them and we'll continue to talk to them," Simmons said Monday. "They're not happy with the density or the style of development," Simmons said. On Monday, Elfin Forest resident Kim Hunter, an outspoken critic of San Elijo Hills, said the giant development has already increased traffic. "Our roads are just not built to handle this (additional development)," she said. What's more, the lot sizes will be a fraction of the size of surrounding properties, Hunter said. Most of the homes in the unincorporated area are on lots that range in size from 2- to 8 acres, she said. "Obviously, we're extremely opposed. There's no infrastructure and it's way too dense," Hunter said, adding that she would oppose the property being annexed into the city. Alemanni said, "San Marcos has a track record of annexing areas and trashing them," referring to the now-closed county landfill. "They're famous for putting all their ugly projects on the edge of San Marcos." "We are in a county unincorporated area and we want to stay that way," she added. The homes in the Pulte development will be on 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot lots or roughly one-eighth to one-quarter acre lots, Simmons said. The homes will range from 2,600-square-feet to 3,500-square feet. Thursday's workshop on the Pulte development is one of three scheduled on different matters this week. A separate workshop on Thursday will deal with a proposed 120-unit apartment complex for seniors. The complex would be on the west side of Woodward Street, north of Wil Ev Drive. The city will also hold a workshop on Wednesday on a proposal to build a 41-home development at Marcos Street and Liberty Drive. The workshops will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Valley of Discovery Room at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive. 7/25/00
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