Board to see plans for Sabre Springs project

Sabre Springs residents will soon get a first look at designs for a senior living facility being proposed for an open parcel of land on Poway Road.

A representative of Sunrise Senior Living said the company is working on drawings that will be presented at the next meeting of the Sabre Springs Planning Group, which will take place Wednesday, July 18.

The news comes after the city of San Diego’s planning department determined that Sunrise would not need a comprehensive change of the Sabre Springs Community Plan to build at the intersection of Poway Road and Springhurst Drive.

The lot, known as Parcel 31, is the last piece of undeveloped land in Sabre Springs.

Sunrise Senior Living representatives have said they’re looking to construct a four-story facility for seniors that includes both independent living and assisted care.

Construction on the 2.3-acre corner lot is governed by two planning documents: the master plan and a planned development permit, an additional set of guidelines that outline the acceptable and non-acceptable uses for the site.

The permit was established to respond to community concern about the uses, after the city allowed the land designation to change from institutional use to specialty commercial.

Residents wanted to exclude any construction that would lead to added traffic, or that would entice children from Creekside Elementary School, which sits across the street.

Residential projects were among the types of uses prohibited at the site by the planned development permit.

In an earlier decision, city planners had said that the senior living facility qualifies as a residential use, and that in order for the project to move forward, Sunrise Senior Living would have to pursue a master plan amendment.

According to Maxx Stalheim, a senior planner with the city, the city changed its position on the project last month.

“We all recognize that a senior care facility, or a group living quarter, is a different residential use than a for-sale product,” Stalheim said.

He said Sunrise Senior Living would be able to move forward on the project by making a change only to the planned development permit.

He said the change is slightly easier, and less time consuming, although he noted it would also require public review and public hearings.

“Plan amendments take a year to a year and a half,” Stalheim said. “A planned development permit takes significantly less time.”

Roger Green, a development officer with Sunrise, said the company plans to present design drawings, elevation, landscape and sight plans for construction.

Already, some in the community have said that they are opposed to the construction of a four-story building, saying that a building of that height is not typical for Sabre Springs.

Greene said his response is that people should wait until they see the proposal.

“They haven’t seen anything yet to see if there’s a concern,” he said. “Our architect is preparing drawings and elevations for an attractive-looking building that we will present to them in July.”

The Sabre Springs Planning Group meetings start at 7 p.m. at the Carmel Mountain Ranch/Sabre Spring Recreation Center, at 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive.