HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item 15 Letter from Pechanga Culture ResourcesVIA E -Mail and USPS
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PECHA CIA CULTURAL RESOURCES
Temecula Band of Luiseho Mission Indians
Post Office. Box 2183 • Temecula, CA 92593
Telephone (951) 308 -9295 • Fax (951) 506 -9491
May 26, 2015
Chairperson:
Mary Bear Magee
Vice Chairperson:
Darlene Miranda
Committee Members:
Evie Gerber
Bridgett Barcello Maxwell
Richard B. Seearce, III
Neal Ibanez
Michael Vasquez
Director:
Gary DuBois
Coordinator:
Paul Macann
Mr. Richard J. MacHott
Planning Specialist:
Planting Manager Tuba Ebm Ozdil
City of Lake Elsinore - Cultural Analyst
183 North Main Street Anna Hoover
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Re: Pechanga Tribe Comments on the New Condition of Approval for Tentative Tract
Map No. 36682, Change of Zone No. 2014 -01, and Residential Design Review No.
2014 -01 Regarding Holland Road and Trail Construction
Dear Mr. MacHott:
This comment letter is submitted by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians (hereinafter,
"the Tribe "), a federally recognized Indian tribe and sovereign government, in response to the
City's new condition of approval to the Tentative Tract Map No. 36682 inserted after the May 7,
2015 Planning Commission Hearing. The Tribe met with you and City Staff in our regularly
scheduled meeting Monday, May 18d' and discussed this Project's status. At our meeting, we
were informed that a new condition of approval will be added to the Project for the City Council
Hearing on May 26, 2015.
The Tribe is not in agreement with the newly proposed condition of approval because it is
nonspecific and could potentially impact the Heritage Parcel to the north, which has been set
aside by the City of Menifee (and prior by the County of Riverside) for preservation. This new
condition of approval states: "The developer shall meet with the Cities of Lake Elsinore and
Menifee Public Works Departments for the final alignment of Holland Road. The final alignment
shall include a trail easement on the northern side of the Holland Road alignment. The
agreement by both cities will be reached prior to improvement plan approval. "
According to the existing mitigation measure TRA -2, the Project Applicant is required to
construct Holland Road from its ultimate half-width section, including landscaping and parkway
improvements, in conjunction with the development, "as necessary ". The new condition, as
drafted, does not identify if the current Project will be required to construct Holland Road at the
half -width section or in its entirety during the proposed construction and development. It further
does not clarify the type of trail or its ultimate location when it is to be constructed.
Our concerns are that if this Project is conditioned to construct the ultimate build -
out /right -of -way of the Holland Road, which is not specified in MM TRA -2, then the City of
Sacred Is The Dut), Trusted Unto Our Care And With Honor We Rise To The Need
Pechanga Comment Letter to the City of Lake Elsinore
Re: Pechanga Tribe Comments on the COA of TR 36682
May 21, 2015
Page 2
Lake Elsinore's proposed trail condition could create an encumbrance to the Heritage Parcel
located north of the Holland Road which is located within the City of Menifee and outside of
City of Lake Elsinore's jurisdiction.
To date, no map or exhibit has been provided to the Tribe which shows the full build -out
of the Holland Road realignment. The Tribe requests that should the Project be conditioned to
build only the half -width of Holland Road, than the trail should be constructed within the
Applicant's property boundaries; however, if the Project is conditioned, or will be conditioned
by the City on any future projects to construct the full -width of Holland Road, then the Tribe
requests that this condition not be included due to fact that it will likely place an encumbrance to
the Heritage Parcel.
In addition, if the Holland Road trail and realignment condition requires impacts outside
of the current Project boundary, than the CEQA documents must address any potential and real
environmental and cultural impacts to these areas prior to project approval. Failure to do so
would be deferred mitigation and is not allowed under CEQA.
The Pechanga Tribe looks forward to continuing to work together with the City of Lake
Elsinore. Please contact me at 951- 770 -8113 if you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Tuba Ebru Ozdil
Planning Specialist
cc: Pechanga Office of the General Counsel
Pechanga Cultural Resources Temecula Band ojLui.seno Mission Indians
Post Office Box 2183 • Temecula, CA 92592
Sacred Is The Duty Trusted Unto Our Care And With Honor We Rise To The Need