Cottonwood Sand Mine
PDS2018-MUP-18-023; PDS2018-RP-18-001; Log No. PDS2018-ER-18-19-007; SCH# 2019100513
The Project includes a Major Use Permit (PDS2018-MUP-18-023) and a Reclamation Plan (PDS2018-RP-18-001).
The Cottonwood Sand Mining Project (Project) proposes the conversion of the existing Cottonwood Golf Club golf courses to a ten-year sand mining operation with an additional two-year reclamation period. Approximately 214.4 acres of the approximately 280-acre site are proposed for extractive use which would occur in a total of four phases. The extraction process would occur in three phases over the span of ten years and the cleanup, equipment removal, and final reclamation would occur in the fourth phase over 2 years. Areas included within the project boundary that are not disturbed by mining would be subject to habitat improvement through removal of invasive species in the river channel (if necessary) or would be left in their current condition including the existing Sweetwater River channel. The project would make certain improvements to Willow Glen Drive prior to beginning mining operations. The Project's mining operations would extract, process, and transport aggregate consisting primarily of sand suitable for Portland cement concrete. Approximately 4.3 million cubic yards (cy) (6.40 million tons) of material are proposed to be extracted, with approximately 3.8 million cy (5.7 million tons) produced for market use. Sand excavation and processing would occur Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Trucking operations for material sales would occur Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There would be no processing of materials or trucking from the site on Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays. Reclamation of the site would include the removal of all manmade structures, grading to achieve final landforms, incorporation of accumulated wash fines and salvaged topsoil, and revegetation and monitoring. The Project requires a Major Use Permit (MUP) and Reclamation Plan (RP). The project is located at 3121 Willow Glen Drive within the Valle De Oro Community Planning Area within the unincorporated area of San Diego County. The project site extends west to east from approximately 600 feet east of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Jamacha Road, to approximately 0.25 miles west of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Hillsdale Drive. Willow Glen Drive parallels the north side of the project site and Steele Canyon Road bisects the western portion of the site.
The DEIR identified significant environmental impacts to the following environmental factors: Aesthetics, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Noise, Paleontological Resources, and Tribal Cultural Resources. Impacts to Aesthetics, even with mitigation measures, would remain significant and unavoidable. All other potential significant impacts would be reduced to less than significant with implementation of mitigation measures. The DEIR documents can also be reviewed at the Rancho San Diego Library located at 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, CA 92019 and the Casa de Oro Library, located at 9805 Campo Road, #180, Spring Valley, CA 91977. The public review period has been extended to end on February 28, 2022. Comments on the DEIR must be received by the County no later than February 28, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. (75-day public review period). Comments on the DEIR must be sent to Robert Hingtgen, Planning & Development Services, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123 or emailed to Robert.Hingtgen@sdcounty.ca.gov.
In-Person Meeting (CANCELLED)
The in-person public meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2022 from 7:00 P.M until 9:30 P.M. at the Hillsdale Middle School was cancelled.
Virtual Meeting
The online/phone-in public meeting/teleconference was held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Please view the following resources associated with the virtual meeting.
Project Contact: Robert Hingtgen | Robert.Hingtgen@sdcounty.ca.gov | (619) 323-8701
*The Public Review Period has been extended to February 28, 2022*
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD (December 16, 2021 - February 14, 2022)
Public Notice/Legal Advertisement
Chapter 1.0 - Project Description, Location, and Environmental Setting
Chapter 2.0 - Significant Environmental Effects of the Proposed Project
2.7 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes Resultant from Project Implementation
Chapter 3.0 - Environmental Effects Found Not to be Significant
3.1.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3.1.4 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
3.1.5 Hydrology and Water Quality
3.1.7 Transportation and Traffic
3.2 Effects Found Not to be Significant During Initial Study
Chapter 4.0 - Project Alternatives
Chapter 5.0 - List of References
Chapter 6.0 - List of EIR Preparers and Persons and Organizations Contacted
Chapter 7.0 - List of Mitigation Measures and Project Design Features
TECHNICAL APPENDICES
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Multiple Species Conservation Program Conformance Statement
Reclamation Plan Part 2 - Attachment A - Plot Plan
Reclamation Plan Part 3 - Attachment B - Revegetation Plan
Reclamation Plan Part 4 - Attachment C - Soil and Geologic Reconnaissance
NOTICE OF PREPARATION INFORMATION
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD (October 24, 2019 - November 22, 2019)
The project seeks approval of a Major Use Permit (MUP) and Reclamation Plan to conduct a sand mining operation on 251 acres of an approximately 280-acre property that has been and is currently known as the Cottonwood Golf Club. Sand mining would occur on approximately 214 of the 251 acres. Approximately 4.8 million cubic yards (CY) (7.05 million tons) of material would be extracted and processed, with approximately 3.8 million CY (5.7 million tons) of marketable aggregate produced for sale over a 10-year period. Extraction operations would be limited to a maximum production of 380,000 CY (570,000 tons) of construction grade aggregate per calendar year. The project is located at 3121 Willow Glen Drive within the Valle De Oro Community Planning Area within the unincorporated area of San Diego County. The project site extends west to east from approximately 600 feet east of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Jamacha Road, to approximately 0.25 miles west of the intersection of Willow Glen Drive and Hillsdale Drive. Willow Glen Drive parallels the north side of the project site and Steele Canyon Road bisects the western portion of the site.
A public scoping meeting was held to solicit comments on the NOP documents on November 4, 2019 at 6:00 PM, at the Hillsdale Middle School, 1301 Brabham Street, El Cajon, CA 92019.
Public Scoping Meeting Handout from November 4, 2019 NOP Meeting
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