SAN DIEGO -- A development project north of Escondido along Interstate 15 is still on track, but faces several changes in order to obtain final approval, 10News reported.

A provisional green light was given for the Merriam Mountains project, which would be built over the next 15 years between Escondido and Bonsall.

On Friday, San Diego County's Planning Commission recommended approval of the 2,700 home development, but with several conditions.

There will be fewer homes and less noise during construction, and there will be a fire evacuation plan which is in response to fears expressed about the hundreds of acres of open space in the northern section.

The following are conditions as listed by the Commission:

Reduce the density in neighborhood number 2 ("the finger," southwest corner) to one-acre lots (From proposed 77 units to 8-9)

Require use of rubberized asphalt on Deer Springs Road as additional noise mitigation

Require the developer to present an Evacuation Plan approved by fire protection districts for the project

Increase the percentage of construction fleet vehicles that must be low-carbon emitting from 10% to 25%

Require muffling for construction equipment

Change blasting times from M-Sat, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to M-F, 8-5

Provide left and right turn vehicle access provisions to the Golden Door main driveway

Require a sound study be done for Deer Springs Road post-construction and if the DBs are greater than 75 then add additional permanent noise attenuation at the Golden Door

Regarding Viewsheds: In neighborhood one, require lots 6, 7, 10, 13 and 14 to increase setbacks and modify the specific plan to establish guidelines to ensure that homes along Deer Springs Road are not in that viewshed

Require all uses in the biological open space to meet the biological standards in the County MSCP's (Multiple Species Conservation Plan) South County Plan

Project manager Joe Perring said, "The changes the commission added to the plan will make the better."

Planning Commissioner Michael Beck was one of two who voted against the project, and he said, "It's the wrong project for this place."