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North County development under fire in new ads against Measure B

Posted at 6:01 PM, Jan 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-06 17:23:15-05

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - New advertisements against Measure B riled up supporters, who spoke out against the massive development Friday.

The commercial states, "Measure B the Newland Sierra project, is a luxury development," something supporters vehemently deny.

"What I think is disingenuous is making people feel fearful of what can happen in this development," supporter Melinda Vasquez said.

Friday, dozens gathered in Kearny Mesa to advocate for Newland Sierra's development project. The group included teachers and firefighters who want more affordable home options in San Diego.

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"Home ownership has become less of a reality for families like mine," Cindy Lopez said. She is a first generation American (her parents moved from Mexico) and a teacher.

She teaches first- and second-graders, and comes home to a 12-month-old.

"Even though she's a toddler we're going to be expanding soon in the future and we're going to need that space, that affordable space to grow our family," Lopez said she is always budget conscious for her family.

The county's existing general plan calls for 99 homes and up to 2,000,000 square feet of commercial property with open space. This is located north of Deer Springs Road and west of I-15 near Escondido.

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The County Board of Supervisors approved the project in September 2018, but a group of nearby residents and the Golden Door Spa nearby gathered enough signatures to send it to a countywide vote. The vote will happen March 3.

Newland Sierra's public relations firm presented a chart illustrating 2,135 homes that will house families with a various incomes. They said the development will have a spread of apartments for seniors and low low income, affordable town-homes, and individual homes.

The highest bracket in the chart showed $161,570 or more. The firm said there will not be any million-dollar homes.

The commercial riled up supporters with this line, "according to official county records Measure B requires no affordable housing."

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Newland Sierra recorded an agreement on it's deed guaranteeing affordable housing.

A statement released Friday by the law group against Measure B states that agreement is, "nothing more than a distraction with no meaningful legal effect."

The firm's lawyer for Yes on B said if Newland Sierra didn't follow through, any stakeholder, like those who spoke out Friday, could sue.