Question 1

Where is Fanita Ranch?

Accepted Answer

Fanita Ranch is ~2,638-acres of northern Santee stretching adjacent to Mission Trails Park eastern expansion. Fanita stretches from Santee Lakes / Sycamore Creek drainage on the west to Lakeside on the east.

Question 2

Is Fanita in a fire hazard area?

Accepted Answer

Yes - Fanita would put over 8,000 people in a Cal Fire designated “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone” - the same area burned by the 2003 Cedar Fire.

Question 3

How long would it take for Fanita residents to evacuate?

Accepted Answer

Evacuation is not feasible without hours of early warning. The developer’s “evacuation plan” did not consider likely ignition points and compare fire arrival times with how long it would take to evacuate residents. Nor did they consider the feasibility of conducting evacuation of the project simultaneous with existing neighborhoods that were evacuated during the 2003 Cedar Fire. Thus, March of 2022, a court ruled against the project on fire issues for the fourth time.

Question 4

How large is the proposed subdivision?

Accepted Answer

The developer seeks approval for 3,008-units without a school and 2,949-units if an elementary school is constructed.

Question 5

Who pays for the school and how much?

Accepted Answer

The cost of an elementary school is likely to exceed $70 million according to the Santee School District. The public pays all of the cost except a parcel pledged by the developer.

Question 6

How much traffic will the Fanita Ranch project produce?

Accepted Answer

Over 25,000 vehicle trips per day would be added to Santee streets. The Environmental Impact Report concludes the impacts to street segments, intersections and highways are significant and unavoidable.

Question 7

Who owns Fanita Ranch?

Accepted Answer

Fanita is controlled by The Jeffries Financial Group of NY who absorbed HomeFed Corporation.

Question 8

Can Santee voters overturn city council?

Accepted Answer

Residents can veto city council approval of the project by voting NO in a new Referendum election or with a public vote required by the Santee General Plan Protection Measure N for any similar Fanita Ranch project approved in the future.  Fanita Ranch was approved at the city council meeting on September 23, 2020 with 4 votes in support and Stephen Houlahan voting NO. Hence, Santee residents petitioned to challenge the city council decision qualifying a referendum with over 6,200 valid signatures submitted. Since the project was defeated in court in March of 2022, the city refused to hold the referendum vote scheduled for November of 2022. Although they surrendered on the referendum, currently the city/developer are trying to devise a scheme to avoid any pubic vote.

Question 9

Haven’t we voted down 3,000-units on Fanita Ranch before?

Accepted Answer

Yes - residents petitioned to referend a city council approval (put it on the ballot) for a 2,988-unit project in 1999. The project was defeated by the voters in a landslide 2/3 vote.

Question 10

Haven’t the courts ruled against Fanita Ranch?

Accepted Answer

Yes - Superior Court ruled against a second city council project approved in 2007. When the project returned to court - it lost again. When the Superior Court’s decisions were appealed, in 2012, the Appeals Court ruled against the project on issues of fire, water supply and endangered species. Despite these rulings, city council approved a third massive project in 2020. In March 2022, Superior Court ruled against the project once again on multiple fire issues.

Question 11

Will the State force Santee to build even more houses on Fanita Ranch if we don't allow the current project proposal?

Accepted Answer

The State does not force housing into Cal Fire designated Very High Fire Severity Zones like Fanita Ranch. The State discourages risky locations because eventually we all must bear the costs of poorly sited developments.

Question 12

Can “Urgency Ordinance 592” be used to prevent Santee voters from deciding the fate of Fanita Ranch?

Accepted Answer

To be determined. City Council made up a new rule in 2021 to give themselves power over the people, by excluding voters from the project approval decision. Unless the City relents, the issue may have to be litigated.

Question 13

Does endangered wildlife exist on Fanita?

Accepted Answer

Yes - Fanita has been identified as biological core habitat within the Multiple Species Conservation Plan of San Diego County and serves as a strategic biological linkage to adjacent open spaces. Fanita provides habitat for 21 mammal species, 22 species of reptiles and amphibians, and twenty-nine species of butterflies (including the endangered Quino checkerspot) and over 100 bird species including the threatened California gnatcatcher and the endangered least Bell's vireo.

Question 14

Why hasn’t Fanita been conserved similar to other valuable parcels in the region?

Accepted Answer

The Santee City Council blocked access to public funding through the Department of Defense “Buffer Program” despite the desire of a willing seller/prior owner to conserve the land through program funding.

Question 15

What can I do to help?

Accepted Answer

Join our campaign, share our webpages, donate to our effort and Vote NO.