These 24 years in Real Estate, every time I see a surveyor, I pull over when I can. It is always interesting to learn what property is being surveyed. It is so helpful when dealing with properties close by to know where some professional corners have been set. Well, this gentleman remembered me from 3 years ago when he was here to gps every pin in the county roads. Knowing there was new pavement on the way, instead of digging around the set pins at the time, it makes a lot of sense to come back now with his gps map and set new pins.
He just finished State Park Road and South Grade, and I said hello again a few days ago up on Crestline.
When you see a circle of orange paint in the road, you’ll find a survey pin in the middle. If you border a public road, one of those pins might line up to your corners. It’s all good!
Tomorrow it will be just six weeks that we have been aware that there is a possibility of a huge 500,000 Volt transmission line cutting right through the beautiful view you see there from State Park Road. As most of you know the bid was awarded but even with a 30 minute conference call with that company, they absolutely would not disclose their routes. We were told they would release the routes sometime next Spring of 2025! We are guessing that because they planned the call with a group of Palomar property owners, the route may still go over this Mountain. So we aren’t backing down.
Kate Woods, one of our group of concerned property owners consulted with an eminent domain attorney. She shared that we must have findings for the “Public Good”, “Public Use”, with solid documentation and overwhelming pictorial and written statements, new articles, from the “Public” who use Palomar as a family tradition and wonderful memories, a playground, environmental learning, etc. This is not only about residents, this is about the Public.
There are thousands of miles of 500,000 Volt lines throughout the country over Environmentally Sensitive, Federal, State, and Native lands. Most of those lands do not have any use to the “Public” where the power line is placed.
Tactics in fighting a power line, cannot just be emotional, ‘not in my back yard’, with concern about environmental damage. Public Good has to be Number One. That the Public will be damaged, the Public, unknown individuals to residents on Palomar and visitors have to fight for Palomar.
We need public groups to join this fight, now, their opinions, pictures and letters of Palomar posted on our website. This will include the Camps, camp grounds, individuals married on Palomar (who don’t live on Palomar), Bird Watching groups, bicycle, car and motorcycle clubs, hikers, University papers, students that study the environment or archeology. The astronomers that come from around the world, news stories of the snow visitors, free hunting available to the public, no charge Explore the Stars events, etc. needs to be number one on the website.
Kate has had recent dealings with the Government and “the Greater Good for the Public Use” and this is the most important. In California it’s about showing an overwhelming Equity to the Public. When there is overwhelming Public Opinion and Use, the attorney said, the company will not win at destroying Palomar with 500,000 Volt power line.
Palomar has a tremendous history of astronomers and people coming from around the world to use and visit what would the world’s largest Observatory for 45 years! Our camps have had children enjoy their time so much on this mountain that they have now come back to be on staff or buy property up here. Our vacation rentals have an amazing list of guests from nearly every state already posted and international guests. We’ve hosted the Tour de California Amgen Bicycle Race twice and many more events that attract global attendees.
We need to hear from all of you from SoCal, the United States and around the world to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain.
Then, would you please share on all your social media, including group posts for neighboring cities?
Thank you so much for your support!
Bonnie Phelps,
Just one of the many volunteers that have been working night and day to Save Palomar Mountain…
Palomar Mountain was quite a destination and a boom town a century ago with the lumber mill in operation down in Pedley and many little cabins built in the Roaring Twenties! The subdivision on Bailey Meadow Road was approved apparently in 1922 or there abouts. One of my escrows has had a title issue and that map could be helpful not only to the new owners, but also everyone who owns a property in Baileys.
The County offices have not turned up the map, my title company hasn’t found it … but we know it exists. I looked through all my old maps today with no luck. I found survey maps but need the Subdivision Map. Do YOU happen to have a copy? It is referenced on deeds as “Palomar Mountain Resort Company’s Tract No. 1 at Bailey’s”. I’d love to get a copy of it and would make it available to all owners with the information on why it is important to have it included with their important papers.
After several days glued to my desk, the Cowboy casually suggested a drive down East Grade to “see the spring”. That sounded wonderful, I clicked ‘save’, grabbed my coat and ran out the door. Such a beautiful evening. As the road became East Grade, I remembered seeing it on old maps as ‘Rainbow Crest’. (Decades ago, someone had a reason for naming this beautiful drive ‘Rainbow Crest’ … Maybe we should bring it back?) Driving along, I asked where the spring was. He explained the flowers had started blossoming and he thought I’d like to see them. Oh my, just what I needed!
Spring has just started on this beautiful mountain so we made a few stops for me to be able to share a bit of the beauty with you.
Every year so many folks come up for ‘The Spring’ on Palomar. Hope you can experience it, too. The Black Oaks have leafed out already at lower elevations and are almost ready to show their burst of bright green color at the top. Pack a picnic lunch, grab the kids and invite your neighbors to join you.
There are two lookouts that draw you in along East Grade. Then, you must come and State Park Road and down through the State Park as the dogwoods are in bloom. So much to discover on Palomar Mountain and a very Happy Spring to you!
What do YOU love about Palomar Mountain? These views wouldn’t be the same with 13 story tall, 500,000 volt transmission lines cutting through. We need to hear from all of you to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain. Thank you!
Bonnie Phelps, Re-charged Realtor after our Spring Tour
A few years ago, about a week before Mother’s Day, I answered a call from a pretty anxious mom. She explained that she and her now-grown sons had a tradition since they were little boys. They would always go camping in the Palomar Mountain State Park. Every year they would pitch a tent, eat around the campfire, hike the trails and create another memory.
Well, the week she called, it was already pouring rain and snow was in the forecast during their stay. Against her son’s wishes, she had tried to source out an Airbnb but every single one was booked. Her sons insisted that they had new camping gear and they would be just fine. “Camping on Palomar Mountain is our tradition, Mom!” She’d found my number and called out of desperation, “do you know of anywhere I could sleep and meet up with my son’s during the day?”
We have a little guest apartment for family and friends and it wasn’t being used. So, I told her about ‘Snuggle Inn’. She was thrilled. They all arrived Friday afternoon to check on the accommodations “just in case she decided to pass on the tent idea”. It was toasty warm, I showed them the kitchen, bath and extra beds. It wasn’t raining at the time so they all went down to set up camp. Pretty soon it started started sleeting and wasn’t long before one son was delivering mom with snow flakes coming down. I went up and gave her the password to the internet… The son quickly said, “I don’t want to leave you alone, so I’ll stay here with you Mom”.
So funny!!! Yes, bright and early the next morning his two brothers showed up with breakfast supplies. The guys went back to rescue their gear and they all enjoyed yet another wonderful weekend celebrating their mom, looking out the snow, nice and warm on Palomar Mountain. She told me they will keep their tradition of coming to Palomar but during sleet and snow, they will be comfortable in a vacation rental.
Yes, Moms do know best!
Have a wonderful day celebrating Moms!
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor who loves meeting so many folks who love to play on Palomar
Everyone is invited to this very important Annual Meeting. It is always a fun event with a delicious Pancake Breakfast. Of course, the top of the agenda will be all the work that is being done to STOP the 500,000 volt transmission lines from even touching Palomar Mountain. Special speakers are in the works. You’ll also hear how YOU can help. More info at SavePalomarMountain.org
Property owners and locals, you should have the PMPO Newsletter in your mail box by now. Just in case, please visit their website PMPO Info where you’ll find the newsletter in living color!
Please join us: Saturday, May 25, 2024, Breakfast 8 am to 10 am, $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children
Annual Meeting immediately follows breakfast at 10
Located at the Palomar Mountain Fire Station
21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
Hope to see YOU there!
P.S. What do YOU love about Palomar Mountain? We need to hear from all of you to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain. Thank you!
Perfectly healthy fir tree until SDG&E cut the top off and left the slash on the ground. Photo by Wayne Morehead
Did you know this is ‘Wildfire Preparedness Week in California’? Per Governor Newsome, May 5-11, 2024 We’re to all work together and clean up our properties to be more fire safe. SG&E, we need YOUR help!
The past few years the work Rancho Trees, aka Davey Tree or DRG have been working along the power easements and are creating more of a fire danger plus work and and expense for the property owner.
Please see video below I took yesterday.
We appreciate the trees being trimmed near the power lines but cutting off the tops as proven time and time again, does not work! All over Palomar you can see when a top is cut off, it kills the trees. Firs especially seem to prefer keeping their head about them so it is only a matter of time and they are a great fire danger and expensive for property owner to deal with. This damage caused by SDG&E also negatively impacts property values.
SDG&E, please review the guidelines for cutting in Cleveland National Forest including CalFire requirements. Our now very expensive fire insurance requirements can be even more demanding than what you see here:
Since we are within Cleveland National Forest, their guidelines require that no stump be left taller that 8 inches on the tall side. These stumps being butchered are 20 to 30 feet tall.
CAL FIRE now has annual inspections and one of the requirements states: “If you have dead or dying trees on your property, the entire tree needs to be removed to reduce wildfire risk.” Yes, we know that a tree is often alive but when your crews cut the top off, your work causes a fire danger and considerable expense to the property owner.
In addition, CAR, California Association of Real Estate has guidelines now through a state law, requiring a seller provide a CAL FIRE clearance or the Buyer needs to take the responsibility and have the work done within 30 days.
Driving around, we see that a lot of slash with large branches has been left around these standing dead tall stumps. From what we understand, your tree crews are to chip the slash for fire safety. Please finish the job.
Your notice on doors state that “This work is done at no cost to you”. Be aware that much expense is ahead for the owner. Please review how some of these crews are leaving the wood. Some crews do a great job bucking the wood to manageable lengths, but many property owners use the wood for heat. Most of the wood is now being bucked into 5 or 6 inch rounds, then cut into a pie shapes. We can not even get these on a splitter or stack to store for burning. Please instruct the crews to buck into about 15 or 16 inch rounds, then cutting in half if need be so we can ‘manage’ these rounds, split and store to use for heat. It would take no more work, perhaps even fewer cuts for the crews. Some wood has been left so difficult that your crews have and to come back and chip it to make it fire safe. Please help us help you and avoid the second visits.
Attention Palomar neighbors, It is ALWAYS BEST to be on your property when the SDG&E crews do the work. Do you have standing dead stumps? Do you have slash left by SDG&E work? Would you like to get them back to your property to finish the job? Do you have an absentee neighbor you could contact to have SDG&E finish their job? That property owner does have to be the one to connect with SDG&E so please forward this info.
Who do you contact to get your property fire safe from SDG&E’s crews? Over the years I’ve collected these cards but haven’t double checked the contacts:
SDG&E Vegetation management 858-654-8608
Jason Arnold Senior Consulting Utility Forester Certified Arborist 619-496-7528
Jason Digenan Construction Supervisor – Electric Northeast C&O Regional Operations 619-992-6476 jdigenan@sdge.com
Nick Smith Construction Supervisor 760-305-3039 nsmith5@sdge.com
Jack Sullivan Field System Analyst 310-770-9727 jsullivan3@semprautilities.com
Let’s work together to help keep Palomar Fire Safe!
Driving along State Park Road, I saw children playing with a ball. They were having so much fun, I just had to turn around. Say ‘hello’ to the Miguel Francisco Family! It is a family tradition to come to Palomar for the kids to get out of the city and play in sunny weather. They traveled from Escondido to a favorite spot for a Sunday afternoon picnic at the side of the the Palomar Mountain General Store. When we have snow, they are so excited and bundle up to be one of the first families to enjoy our Winter Wonderland.
How nice to be able to have a family day enjoying our fresh air and beautiful forest with bright spring green and the clouds rolling in. We had a little visit and I asked to take a quick video to share. Don’t you just love those children’s voices and happy smiles?
Bonnie Phelps, out making new friends!
P.S. Why do YOU love to Play on Palomar Mountain? We need to hear from all of you to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain. Thank you!
This is Day 11 of learning about this 500,000 volt transmission line to cut across Palomar Mountain. How did we find out? SDG&E sent letters out to property owners on what we now call the Orange Line. The letters stated that environmental survey teams would be entering their properties. Most property owners contacted the number provided and did not give permission to enter. Many folks up here now have trail cams. One saw trespassers on his land, called a neighbor who ran over and talked to a survey crew who said they “had permission”. However, it was quite the opposite. So, this grassroots action team of neighbors was immediately born to research, expose and stop this project.
We just got word that Horizon West won the bid for their share of the $9.2 billion dollar line. We don’t know if Horizon West was bidding on this same route. Apparently it will be awhile before the route is to be published. We confirmed that SDG&E and KP Environmental will not be involved in the project. Meanwhile, we are going forward to do all we can to SAVE Palomar Mountain from where ever this line will be proposed.
What about the GOLD? Neighbor, Sandra Cagusi follows Amy Reichert @amyforsandiego on Instagram, Sandra sent her the Loaded for Bear post. A late-night phone call last night with Amy Reichert was priceless. Amy was incredibility generous with sharing proven information she has gathered over the years running her non-profit and gave some wonderful guidance to really take this to the next level. The GOLD???? Amy sent us her data base of over 200 contacts with key people and groups politically, TV stations, editors and every valuable gem for marketing to San Diego County and beyond. We are on a roll!!!
P.S. What do YOU feel like you found a real treasure and a golden gem when you visit Palomar Mountain? We need to hear from all of you to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain. Thank you!
That’s a quote from one of our neighbors who was on the phone yesterday with Brian Freye, the contact person for the environmental surveys for SDG&E. Their property is one in orange on this map. These letters have become a pretty obvious line across Palomar which could turn into the path of destruction for these transmission lines to Orange County and beyond. After a bit of Q&A, Brian heard loud and clear (but very professional and nice) that we are a community already poised with amazing resources to fight this with the State of California and everyone in-between. We have a core team of volunteers working around the clock toward a goal of preserving this mountain. But, we need your help! Keep reading for some of the needs that have surfaced so far to attack this project from many angles:
Do you have property close to our ‘Orange Line‘? Do you think you might have received a letter from SDG&E? They were sent out the end of February.
Hello Observatory and Caltech! Could 500,000 kV lines across Palomar Mountain cause any interference with the work you do as one of the largest observatories in the world? Would the fact that these towers need to light up at night for safety for airplanes be a detriment to your need for ‘Dark Sky’? Please let us know.
Drone Photographers and AI photoshop help – We have some key locations along the ‘Orange Line’ where some some photos could be taken in the direction the lines might run. Drone photography might be the best. Then if we had someone that could photoshop or use AI to show a visual of how this line could possibly change the landscape, that would be fabulous. This photo above was taken on the the lower side of State Park Road where a straight line for the towers could take us right across the south side of the mountain, west, to and through Nate Harrison Grade to stay above the residential areas in Pauma Valley.
Nate Harrison Grade – The archeologist for the cabin study site has been notified. Do you own property on Nate Harrison? How about Pauma Valley or Pala? Did you receive a letter? It is possible that the line is heading your way. Please let us know.
Press Releases, interviews on mtn with camera crews – David Ross with the VC Roadrunner and Escondido TA published a intro to our project in Thursday’s paper. Wednesday he interviewed George Ravenscroft for a large article this coming week and on-going updates are promised in his papers. I did have an interview with Coast News a couple days ago. Do YOU have a contact with TV stations and other newspapers? Let’s get those crews up here now that we are to have clear weather next week.
Palomar is on an earthquake fault line – A Geologist Engineer is working on addressing that issue. Please stay tuned.
Endangered species – A mountain neighbor has volunteered to compile the research for all known endangered species on Palomar. He actually works with the Skipper Butterfly Foundation. Will share with all.
“People are Talking” we plan an-ever growing collection of why you think the line should be stopped. Just send it my way and we’ll plan to weave the comments in with our marketing. Thanks to all.
500,000 kV lines have proven to pose such a huge fire risk. So many fires have been started from electrical lines. For the possibility of these towers along the rim of Palomar, coupled with our 100 mile per hour winds we’ve experienced on our own property, and lightening here on the mountain, this makes no sense at all. It certainly didn’t work out well for the town of Paradise, CA with CalFire stating the cause was a “faulty electric transmission line”. Do you have input to share on this subject?
Today I just realized we have only had knowledge of this project for nine days so think we’ll pause here at nine bullet points… for a quick minute. Mike Pique was here for about 6 hours today working together researching and verifying information. We have so many more directions and connections that many volunteers are working on and will have more for you soon.
Meanwhile, what do you think of this video below? I found it interesting how land and trees are clear-cut for these 500,000 kV towers. This installation looks like a pretty simple project being on level land and not across our steep topography with huge canyons, granite boulders and our old-growth forest where erosion could be a bit of a challenge too.
No, we don’t need this on Palomar Mountain. You with us on that? We need to hear from all of you to help in keeping those huge transmission towers OFF this beautiful mountain. Please take a minute and leave your comments at Save Palomar Mountain. Thank you!
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor and volunteer along with some pretty sharp folks to Save Palomar Mountain!
Palomar Mountain News 