Palomar Mountain News

Most of you have heard about Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs in the news.  In January of last year some intriguing options with the county building department opened up.

Basically, the rules for adding a second living area on your property, relaxed, and fees were reduced.  With our smaller lots in the Crestline, Birch Hill and Bailey area, most parcels would not be able to fit another unit since, at this time, each would need to have their own septic system.  However, there is a possibility of larger lots being able to add a garage/ADU.

At this time an ADU can be a small ‘tiny house’ or up to 1200 sf.  1200 feet is larger than most of our cabins!  A few properties I know of might keep their little cabin and add something bigger as a main house.  An ADU can also be attached!  Lots of options to add to your property with quite a savings over the next few years while this opportunity is in place.

If you are considering adding another structure to your property, or adding on to your existing cabin or home, perhaps by the name of a granny flat, companion unit, guest house, studio or workshop, it you might really appreciate this information.  From what I understand, pulling a permit after Jan. 1st would require solar.  Prior to the first of the year, apparently does not.  That is something to consider with the height of our trees in some areas and the effectiveness of solar.   If interested, pulling a permit prior to the first of the year could save you some money.

The North San Diego County Association of Realtors, NSDCAR is hosting a free event for homeowners to get their questions answered:

Wednesday, September 25th from 4 to 8:30 at Center for the Arts.

Click for more information and to reserve your seat.  I saw there are 38 seats available tonight.

The Union Tribune also has a very informative article here including a 42 page pdf of a informative handbook.

I’m always glad to be a resource to help get questions answered.

Bonnie Phelps

When folks are in line at 8:30 am for a friendly visit with their neighbors, this happened by 9:37am  🙂  Woo Hoo!

A call came today from the cleaning gals saying they finished working their magic on this charming cabin.  I was off the mountain a few days so haven’t been by to update the photos yet for you.  Just had to post as a ‘coming soon’ since some of you might want to head this way for a tour this weekend!

Make this cabin your very own to live full time or spend lovely weekends away from the stress and sounds of the city.   Such a private location surrounded by towering oaks cedars and firs. A wood burning stove keeps you toasty on the main level when the snow is falling. One bedroom upstairs and an option to perhaps also open stairs to the walkout basement to add another.  You could still have a nice workshop on that lowest level with 500 sf. Cabin is a total of 825 sf plus the newly finished basement for a total of 1325 sf.

The owners picked out the paint with ‘Tomato Red’ for a juicy pop of color.  All new exterior paint, new roof, all double pane windows.  The main level was taken down to studs recently so has all new electrical, plumbing, insulation, lighting, appliances, kitchen, bathroom, flooring…   and great driveway and road work. $255,500.

Let’s go see if this charming cabin is the one for you!

Bonnie Phelps

Mother’s opens at 9 am!  This hardy breakfast was enjoyed last week.  There are lots of delicious options and some friendly mountain neighbors gathering for our Palomar Breakfast Club.

You’re invited to pop in for breakfast.  Come on out and join us … before or after dropping off a load at the Fire Department!    Click for details and the coffee with be nice and hot just waiting for you!

Load up bright and early to be in line to fill that 40 yard dumpster tomorrow!  It opens at 9 am.  All the details HERE.   Together let’s clean up the mountain!

From: Kristin Sanders  

Hi, I came across your website when I found my old friend Lois Day on your Palomar Mountain (and was heartbroken). In the 1970’s my dad and mom, Steve and Leta Sanders lived at the Country Road Station on Palomar, as my dad worked there. They were such good friends with Rich and Lois Day from Nate Harrison Grade, but had lost touch.

I was a little kid when I got to know and love the Days. I saw my first snow on Palomar one Christmas with them. I think I was three. Lois always wrapped me in that big hug of hers.  So special.  She made me a Raggedy Ann doll that I still cherish 39 years later.

Everything about the Day family was different and exotic to me- the log cabin, the rocking chair, the ancient phone on their wall (well, everything on their walls)…

I played with the Labradors and even got a pup from one of the litters- a strapping black male the same size as myself!  I still remember their funny dog, Buckwheat, that sat like a human, even in the back of the truck! And Russ put me on the back of his motorbike once for a wild ride!

I’d been trying to find the family all these years…then found the memorial page. I love you Day Family and all my happy memories of Palomar Mountain!

Kristin and Mom (Leta Sanders)

There’s a new club in town!

Come meet your neighbors and catch up on the latest with Palomar Breakfast Club!  The first Saturday of every month, mountain folks and friends will meet up ’round 9am or so at Mother’s Kitchen.  They will be serving up yummy omelets, pancakes, French toast, hot coffee… oh and selections from the bakery counter – yum! Plus lots of smiles and fun.

We invite you to put the Club on your calendar for once a month.  Of course, you can dine at Mother’s more often, but PAC will be there for sure on the first Saturdays.

No meetings, no minutes, no dues, no initiation, just fun mountain folks and kids of all ages.

Come join the Club!

Bonnie Phelps

Thanks also for all you neighbors and all you do to preserve this beautiful place we call home.  Enjoy the rest of your holiday and we’ll see you ’round the mountain!

Bonnie and Don

On State Park Road, ready for you to pick up!  Round or oval with a couple leaves.  Solid pine and very sound.  Could be pretty fun refinished.  Many possibilities.

Bonnie Phelps

From: April Sandell (Daughter of Vic and Kay Butler)
Subject: Memories of Vic and Kay Butler’s retirement from Palomar State Park

I’m writing to you regarding my Mom’s (Kay Butler) recent passing on August 10, 2019 at nearly 98 years old.

My Dad passed on Dec. 28, 1999.  My folks made life long friends during their time on Palomar.  Really true friends, to say the least.

The Palomar Mountain Do-Nothing Club and lunch bunch gals met every month.  In later years after some of the gals retired and moved down, they met at Marie Calendars in Escondido for many happy times.  Some had been friends for more than 50 years. Irene McCulloch suggested I might try to contact you and she also provided the photo collage.

I found the Palomar Mountain Views II book dated 1983-84. My Dad’s retirement story is on inside on page 80:

“After 17 years of service with the California State Department of Parks and Recreation in a maintenance capacity, Vic Butler retired officially on April, 1983.  (No fooling).

Vic and Kays many friends honored them at a retirement party held on June 14, at the Observatory “Rec Hall” where they were presented with a top notch gas Barbecue.  (Loren Dietz says it works real fine!)

To cap the climax, the State Parks maintenance crew at Cuyamaca headquarters built a FIRST CLASS wooden maintenance cart for Vic’s future operations.  According to “reliable sources” the cart is 6 feet long, complete with rubber tires (2) a pipe frame, wire mesh sides, water spigot, toilet seat, a “hi-fi” earphone, and a sign: “Vic’s Maintenance Service”.  (We don’t know if the plumbing is “in”).

We will all miss Vic and Kay and their friendly, unselfish involvement in so many activities on The Mountain.

It is hard to part with such good friends.  We wish them happiness, health and our best for their future in Hemet.”

We are so thankful for the many friends and wonderful time my folks had on Palomar Mountain.

With gratitude,

April and Family