Poway to increase open space holdings

The city is poised to spend $5,600 to acquire another 46 acres to its growing inventory of open space acreage.

The City Council will be asked Tuesday night to approve spending money for its Habitat In-Lieu Fee Fund to obtain the property, which is in tax default with the county. The land is just east of Community Road on the north-facing slope below the Poway Business Park. It is adjacent to the 77 acres acquired last week though a donation by Empire Communities, LLC. In that transaction the city is taking $2,500 from the fund to cover escrow fees. The fund is financed with contributions made by developers, both locally and elsewhere, to mitigate projects that impact existing open space.

“This council is committed to expanding Poway’s open space holdings to preserve our country character and increase recreational opportunities,” said Mayor Steve Vaus. “Poway has more open space as a percentage of its land mass than any other city in the county. And we’ll do everything in our power to maintain that distinction.”

In August the city purchased 20 acres in the Rattlesnake Creek canyon, requiring the use of $240,000 in funds.

“Recent acquisitions have been made in south Poway, north Poway, and in the eastern reaches of the city,” Vaus said. “With a little luck we’ll add a substantial parcel near Van Dam Peak in western Poway very soon. All to say wherever it is, if there is an acquisition that makes sense we’ll jump on the opportunity.”

The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in its chambers at 13325 Civic Center Drive.

Four members will be sworn in to begin terms following their election in November. They are Vaus, Dave Grosch, John Mullin and Caylin Frank. Vaus, Grosch and Mullin will serve four years while Frank will complete the remaining two years of the term of Jim Cunningham, who retired in June.

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