Palomar Mountain News

Have you heard? The State of California is planning a 500,000 volt transmission line to run right through the heart of Palomar Mountain. Concerned citizens are inviting you to meet up for some initial information to stop this project.

Already some residents have received letters from SDG&E which is one of the four companies that is bidding the transmission job across the mountain. The letters inform the property owner that SDG&E crews of 3 people will be on your property doing an environmental survey over a couple of months period of time. They aren’t asking permission, just stating that they will be there. When calling the number on the letter, the information given has usually been very vague. I was told they were just checking areas for potential power poles. I mentioned the area on East Grade was all off-grid and they would have very few new customers. They replied their survey teams were doing an environment survey for endangered species. With more research, we learn the ‘new poles’ would NOT carry residential power at all, it is to be a 500,000 volt transmission tower line, over the mountain with an unknown path to San Onofre.

This project is to carry 500,000 volts of power, apparently twice the size of any other transmission tower in San Diego County, from other states and the Imperial Valley to provide power to South Orange County. Other potential routes have been blocked. Clear-cutting through our old growth forest is their proposed path-of-the-hour.

You might have seen trucks with teams of surveyors around the mountain recently. Even though each property owner I have spoken to has contacted the number on the letter saying they are NOT to be on their land, they come anyway. One property owner saw a crew on his trail cam. A neighbor was called and rushed over as the crew told him they “had permission”. That was not correct, they were told NOT to trespass.

Ray Carpenter, George Ravenscroft and Yvonne Vaucher will be presenting info known to date. The meeting is to be 45 minutes in length.

Here is some info for your initial review from Yvonne:

“This SONGS transmission project (CASIO in coordination with the CPUC) has been in the works for over a year with State transmission plan approval in May 2023.   SONGS project  description: “A new 500 kV transmission line running west from the Arizona border into southern Imperial County, new 500 kV transmission lines angling up from southern Imperial County to northern San Diego County and extending into the southern LA Basin, and upgrades to the existing 500 kV and 230 kV lines along the Interstate 10 (I-10) corridor. Together, these upgrades provide access to east Riverside County, Imperial County and Arizona solar generation, Imperial Valley geothermal, and New Mexico wind generation;” CASIO News Release.

See highlighted text in both  CASIO attachments: Plan approval News release <<  https://www.caiso.com/Documents/caiso-2022-2023-transmission-plan-approved.pdf  & detailed ASIO Transmission Plan Draft (pg 95) -it appears we are in the final Phase 3  out for bid phase (highlighted  pgs 28-30); and the Jan 2024 SDG&E  news release.

From the transmission plan n.b. SONGS (San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station) << https://www.wecc.org/Reliability/SDGE%202024%20APR.pdf >>  is the search word for the Imperial Valley/North San Diego transmission project.

This is an issue of critical importance for the entire Palomar Mountain. The sooner we address this the better the chance of influencing the outcome.”

Please join us 2:00pm to approximately 2:45pm Sunday afternoon, April 21, 2024

Community Center House at Fire Station 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060

Hope to see you there,

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor on very beautiful Palomar Mountain and hope to keep it that way

760-533-1742

CA DRE # 01293655

It’s a bit of a challenge on Palomar as we don’t have curb-side trash pick up at each property up here. Some part-timers take their trash back with them. Or those who work in the city have use of their work dumpster. Most people share dumpsters. You can have your own, of course, but Ramona Disposal is pretty proud of those dumpsters. Would you like to save some money by sharing a dumpster? Ask around or I can give you the contact info of a neighbor open to sharing.

What about that pile of stuff in the photo (not from Palomar)? When you have a lot of stuff to go away, Pala Transfer Station Disposal is our closest dump site. You don’t have a truck or trailer? Some folks have rented a UHaul trailer, loaded it up and haul it to Pala. Be sure to read their webpage of what they do and don’t accept, and info about their rates. Must pay in cash last time I checked.

We do have grants for occasional 40 yard dumpsters for use by the community with a donation, but they can fill up pretty fast.

Glad to get your questions answered.

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor, helping clean up the Mountain

Known for their ‘Super Sandwiches’ Agrusa’s is a recent addition to the Rincon Travel Plaza at Harrah’s. But, did you know they also serve up amazing Banana Bowls? Baking fresh cookies every day, they are also available as the most delicious ice cream sandwiches.

You might recognize a neighbor, Dylan Healey from the mountain. He is the new Assistant Manager at the Travel Center. And, that is Steve and Christine Locken with us. They are very happy new neighbors on Bailey Meadow Road. The kid with the foot-long sub? That would be Atticus. He is our youngest Treasure (aka grandson) and loved every bite! Well, almost every bite, we did help a bit. We all enjoyed the sandwiches and treats. I think YOU will, too!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor always open for treats!

Have you been to Rainbow Oaks? We’d enjoyed meals there with friends in the past but hadn’t made it at noon until recently. Everyday at noon, they play the National Anthem.

There are several reasons we love to go to Rainbow Oaks Restaurant. They have amazing home-cookin’ with great breakfasts, juicy steaks, large portions that are big enough to share. Also, years ago, after a fire on Palomar, they harvested the wood to use in the restaurant. The stools, table tops, live edge bar and hostess counter, were all made from wood from Palomar Mountain.

Here is a tip: You can also order to go, of course. During delicious dinners, I’ve been known to order another couple meals to heat up for the next day and enjoy a night off from cooking!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor lovin’ great food!

Do you know where the best price is to fill up and get your car washed at the same time? Rincon Travel Plaza Gas Station at Harrah’s Casino.

My trips up and down the mountain are usually planned for me to pull in the Travel Plaza with my car close to empty. I fill up and click on a $10.00 car wash. There are other car washes you can select. With any car wash you now get 60 cents off each gallon of fuel! So, when you’re empty, that saves on fuel and basically your car wash is free. Neighbor Renaud Tristen told me about this as he often doesn’t even get his vehicle washed but enjoys the discount on his gas as it works out in your favor.

Well my car ALWAYS seems to need washing and it is kinda fun to drive through.

Hooray for sunny weather and clean cars!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor with a clean car for a minute!

Brad Becker and Crew were up recently working at three cabins. They installed an on-demand hot water system at one, fixed another water heater and did several repairs and additions for one of the recent escrows. They are close by, with an office in Pauma Valley.

Brad Becker – call or text him on his cell: 760-594-1317

Several electric gates have been installed on Palomar by one of our very happy weekenders up here. Simply call or text Steve Rodriguez at 760-224-2770 and he’ll gladly meet up to bid your project. He owns Sierra Pacific Fence out of Vista and has a great photo gallery waiting for you there. They do all types of fencing and gates.

Such a lovely day and should be a beautiful Spring!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

760 533-1742

As most of you know, the Solar Eclipse is to be tomorrow, Monday April 8th 2024. We have clear sky promised and thought it would be fun to meet up and watch together!

The total time is between 10 am and noon. The ‘deepest point’ where the sun is most hidden is to be about 11:15 am. This area of the country we only get to see a partial eclipse. Click for local info.

One of our Mountain neighbors, Mike Pique is on a road trip and is in Texas to see the full eclipse with friends. Before he left, he dropped off some safety glasses and I have a couple extras for us to share. It is dangerous to view without these glasses. Click for more info to have fun during the eclipse without glasses.

You can view from anywhere, but if you pop by to share our glasses, we’ll be here, down in our meadow, or maybe walk across the road to the lookout opposite Fern Meadow Road. Remember your jacket! It’s chilly! We still have snow on the ground but roads are totally clear.

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor with Eyes to the Sky

760-533-1742

Just a few short weeks ago, I had that cowboy out putting up signs for 5 new listings posted within 24 hours. That sure made my phone ring! Such a whirlwind of many showings and offers gave me the chance to meet some really nice folks that would all love to be our next new neighbors. Inspectors and repairmen have been up, back-to-back, between snow storms, writing inspection reports, pumping and certifying septic systems, cleaning chimneys, repairing plumbing, furnace repair, handyman work, cleaning, rodent exclusion and appraisers. It is amazing, appraisals have come in over the offering price!!! Now we have friends helping friends moving up to this wonderful mountain!

The first cabin to change owners was Wee Bit of Scotch. They are renting a cabin to be up for the big storm coming this weekend. The little hamlet of Happy Holler has full timers joining us. Today new owners got their keys to Chef’s Dream. We have patient buyers for Step Back in Time as we’re clearing up some ownership issues. (Watch for a post real soon that might be helpful for others to avoid title challenges in the future!) The beautiful view home on 77 acres has some very happy buyers anxiously waiting to call it their own in a couple weeks.

Mountain View Lodge had movers up for the last of the furniture. I had fun with a walk-about in the snow, treated to amazingly beautiful clouds. Will update the photos soon.

And, new a listing for 48 acres of land with a fabulous view is waiting to make dreams come true!

So many buyers want their own piece of paradise on Palomar! Have you been thinking about selling? Let’s connect!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor on the Highway to the Stars

760-533-1742