Quiet Commissioner Casillas Resigns….

 …He showed Wildomar how to handle a project nightmare

Reported in today’s Press Enterprise, Commissioner Miguel Casillas “said the commission’s recent approval of Cornerstone Community Church’s parking lot expansion was the toughest decision he was part of.

Soft-spoken, Casillas often deferred comment to other board members, but he said he did not want people to misconstrue his silence as a lack of knowledge or caring.

“I know that there are people out there who might think that, but it’s just the person that I am,” Casillas said.”

Wildomar Magazine thanks Casillas for his public service to the community of Wildomar.  The Planning Commission is tough work, with lots of documents to read and then to have to publically face project owners and, approve or deny their dreams or, in some recent cases, nightmares.

Zak has only three humble suggestions for Councilmember Swanson, whose Commissioner chair she must nominate to fill: 

One, no more realtors (the real estate industry is well represented by the council’s current make-up), and;

Two, no more Cornerstone members ( for the same reason).

Third, surely, Wildomar would be well served by “someone like”  long-time resident George Taylor, who applied for the Commission last year.  George knows the community and along with his late wife, Marie (one of Zak’s favorite Wildomarians), served the community faithfully. Further, he would be able to express himself openly as he did at the last city council meeting. He’s not afraid to state his opinion.

It’s not Zak’s call  but I’m just saying….

Comments  in support of “someone like”  George Taylor can be made to “someone like” Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.

Planning Commission Doesn’t Yet….

..UNDERSTAND THEIR AUTHORITY

Zak Turango attended this evening’s Planning Commission hearing on the RV storage facility. Of course, they approved it. 3-0.  Commissioner Andre left early to attend another public meeting and Commissioner Dykstra was absent.

“Land Ace,” as Developer Guy Larry Markham’s license reads on his yellow Corvette handled all questions in his usual soothing style.  Water collection  from the currently dry creekbed on the parcel, not a problem as their development will push the water from upstream to Lake Elsinore more efficiently and actually help the area.

The discussion between staff and commission highlighted a significant problem inherited by Wildomar from the County. No one has tackled the standing water, during and after rainy season in what is known as the Wildomar Swamp. So approval of the latest project merely continued an old practice; ignore the problem this time, we’ll catch it later. The issue seems to be water flooding septic tanks and failing leach lines in neighboring parcels.

The Commissioners should have taken the project in the context of the larger issue and delayed approval and/or conditioned the project relative to neighboring parcels andt hen instruct planning staff to take the lead and try to get the surrounding parcels hooked into a sewer system at the same time as construction. It wouldn’t cure the entire problem but, as the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles……

City Council should make this issue a high priority now and begin to tackle a real Wildomar matter. And encourage the Commissioners to flex their muscles. They have legitimate power to shape Wildomar in a quality manner.

Comments can always be made to zakturango@excite.com.

 

Planning Commission Lacks??….

…..UNABLE TO REJECT SUBSTANDARD PROJECTS

The non-political concept of appointed Planning Commissioners is to provide the city’s residents with an effective filtration system for new projects brought by the development community, rejecting, in some cases, altering others, to conform to the “vision” for Wildomar.

However, in recent weeks, Wildomar’s Planning Commission capitulated to the mass of “Cornerstoniacs” that crammed the hearing room and adjacent hallway, ignoring the legitimate concerns of affected neighhbors, voting 4-1 (Commissioner Andre properly voting Nay to the Cornerstone mining operation that compels an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) merely on the absurd need to move 700,000 cubic yards of dirt).  Andre received an undeserved, faith-based ”middle finger” from one of the Godly visitors for his courageous vote (shown below. Perhaps this Believer doesn’t understand the vulgar concept).

Two weeks ago, the Commission approved a trailer park disguised (see below, yet again) as a wholesale nursery on Bundy Canyon, exhibiting an inability to review projects and reject substandard projects, to the detriment of Wildomar.

Therefore, Wildomar Magazine challenges the Wildomar Planning Commissioners to tighten their civic corsets when questionable projects come before them and say “no” when “no” is the best response for the residents of Wildomar.

Get your girdles on correctly and then, and only then, you  can make manly comments to Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.

 

 

Oviedo Irreplacable….?

…WILDOMAR LUCKY TO HAVE FRANK AS CITY MANAGER?

According to the Elk Grove Citizen, dated September 2, 2009,”….cost will be offset by not rehiring a deputy city manager in the place of Frank Oviedo who left in August to be city manager of Wildomar in southern California.”

Wildomar Magazine hopes Frank is as good a manager for Wildomar as he apparently was in distant Elk Grove as a deputy manager. So much so that Elk Grove gave up looking for his replacement.

Back in the day when a smoker would approach Zak, seeking a light for an unfiltered Camel with an innocent question,” Got a match?” The instant answer was always, “Not since Superman died!”  That still cracks me up.

Ahhhh, gone are the days of such banal humor.  Now, one has to do this  stuff to be thought of as funny.

Got a match Elk Grove? Not since Frank left.

Anyway, have a powerful day, Frank.

Comments can be made to zakturango@excite.com.  Please leave the humor to we professionals.

Wildomar Already Has…

 

…TWO DISTRICTS…

…CORNERSTONE  AND THE REST OF US….

And Cornerstone has three solid votes in any issue involving them, while The Rest Of US (“TROU”) have only one, maybe two votes.  Councilmember Sheryl Ade voted to hear the Cornerstone project before the city council, not because she is opposed to the project, but there are unresolved issues that will impact TROU.

You had to be there, at the city council meeting, to witness Mayor Pro Tempore  Bridgette Moore and Mayor Scott Farnam elbow the other out of the way to get their  Nay votes on the record. Farnam was quite dismissive of Councilmember Ade’s Motion to hear the project before the council, stating “the motion dies for lack of a second” when Councilman Bob Cashman did not notice that a motion had been made.  After Farnam’s Quick Pitch (all those in the Cornerstone Baseball ministry understand what a Quick Pitch is), Cashman seconded Ade’s motion to reflect his own wishes but the motion did not carry on a 3-2 vote that can be mailed in next time, when the project is re-heard on the City of Menifee’s appeal.

Cornerstone brought at least one hundred alleged Wildomar members to the Planning Comission meeting to flout their numbers for their District. So far voting by districts is working for them.

How’s it working for the rest of Wildomar?

Opinions expressed by Wildomar Magazine are solely the opinions of Zak Turango and no one else so save your accusing breath.  However, meaningful comments may be made to zakturango@excite.com if you have anything valuable to add to the conversation.

Wildomar Council wants to be….

…JUST LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORS…

…so they approve a four day work week for staff. The argument for implementing Mayor Farnam’s agenda item is to save money.  Wildomar Magazine believes that the Council should do more to be like Elsinore, say, giving staff unpaid furloughs for two of the Fridays per month.

Now, that would save some money. Make ‘em work everyday…just like normal folks in Wildomar do.  No need to go gettin’ fancy.

Comments can be made to zakturango@excite.com.  I will not be able to respond immediately if you email on Friday.  I’ll be off that day.

 

Wildomar’s Newest Commercial Development…

…..PUTS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE HOTSEAT

According to the Californian on October 6, 2009, “Also before the commission is the proposal by a nursery business out of Winchester to put a wholesale operation on 1 1/2 acres at the northwest corner of Almond Street and Bundy Canyon Road west of I-15. A 5,280-square-foot modular building would be placed on the property to provide office space.”

A simple drive-by inspection of the proposed project shows eight (8) used construction trailers  joined together to create the “special effect” of a “5,280 square-foot modular building,” as opposed to building an actual commercial office building Wildomar could be proud of.

Dear Planning Commissioners; a simple “you gotta be sh*tting us” vote would be the simplest response.  We pray for your civic courage on behalf of Wildomar’s residents.

Comments can be sent to Zak’s office at zakturango@excite.com. It’s  the light-blue one on the third level, just below the  green penthouse suite.

 

A City On A Hill….

….CANNOT BE HIDDEN OR KEEP IT’S BRIGHT LIGHTS WITHIN ITS’ OWN PROPERTY LINE

 ”You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NIV.

It’s all about an inherent evangelical attitude of  sustained church growth. Ten thousand members would put Cornerstone on the mega-church map.  Christian churches, including Cornerstone Community Church, are all about constant exposure for the sake of intended constant growth.  It’s in their organizational DNA.  They don’t have sports teams, they have sports “ministries.”  It draws new members to them.

They don’t merely utilize  modest  signage on their buildings; instead, they install glaring white lighted letters for maximum exposure. (As if their current members don’t know where Cornerstone is located) . 

All of this within the  context of Wildomar’s important ” Dark skies bright stars” goal to keep Wildomar from undesirable light pollution.  Adding lights to the sports fields will only add to Cornerstone’s pollution “eye”print.

If Wildomar’s residents wish to ignore the “soon to be starting”  mining operation, the dust and truck traffic will eventually go away.  But the light pollution will stay until the Second Coming.

Wildomar Magazine wants to go on record objecting to and opposing the current and future light pollution  emanating and soon to emanate from Cornerstone.  We all know that Cornerstone’s here; we don’t need a fresh reminder every time the sun goes down and their lights come up. 

Cornerstone is not the first enterprise to use garish lighting to draw attention to themselves.Same attitude? You decide for yourself. 

Comments may be made to enlighten Zak at zakturango@excite.com. Please dim them first, however.

 

Wildomar Cruise Night….

..Courtesy of….

Wildomar Gravel and Gospel, Inc., (“WGG”),  now that WGG is free to  begin their  mining operation and prep for their evangelistic, church-building ”sports field ministries.”

Join with your neighbors in a tight-knit cluster behind a meandering  dump truck as you make your way east on Bundy Canyon.  As a side benefit, Residents along Bundy Canyon will no longer have to attend Wildomar city council meetings to complain about speeders on Bundy Canyon.

The next truck ”caravan” leaves in four minutes, then eight minutes, then twelve minutes; every four minutes; all day long for two relaxing years

Comments can be made to Zak via his wifi at zakturango@excite.com.  Staff is a little worried at Wildomar Magazine’s office as Zak left on a cruise and has been gone for four long hours.   Heck, Menifee isn’t that far.

Wildomar Gravel and Gospel, Inc….

 …..A minor mining operation?

The Wildomar Gravel & Gospel,  Inc., fka (“formerly known as”) Cornerstone Community Church, intends to move 700,000 cubic yards of decomposed granite (“d.g.”) from their property, over Wildomar’s roads over a 25 month time frame. The d.g., if sold, is reportedly worth 7 million dollars.

It’s time for the Wildomar City Council to forget that this is a church project and see it for what it is… a mining operation.  The fumes, dust, noise and vibration from a host of bulldozers and up to 35,000 dump truck trips(doubles, no less) , will be a significant imposition on the rest of Wildomar. It is time for Cornerstone to remember what it is…a church. And be thoughtful, in the most Christian way, to its neighbors and not just its members, many of whom live in places other than Wildomar.

Comments can be written in the dust on Zak’s windshield….

…. or send an email to zakturango@excite.com