The current effort to construct of the Cajalco Square Project at Cajalco and Wood Roads and forever change our peaceful, rural community has been pending since about 2017. On May 6, 2020, it came before the Planning Commission of Riverside County with an approval recommendation by the County’s Planning Department despite the County’s long-standing and repeated promises to protect our community from development and preserve its rural character . Despite strong local opposition to the Project from residents and community organizations, the Planning Commissioners approved the Project by a 4-1 vote. Appeal of the decision was immediately filed by the Residents Association of Greater Lake Mathews, Inc. (“RAGLM”) with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors (“BOS”). On May 12, 2020, the Board of Education of the Val Verde Unified School District unanimously passed a Resolution opposing the Project.
The appeal comes before the BOS for argument on Tuesday morning, 9:30AM, July 14, 2020, in the First Floor Board Chambers of the County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, 92501. The Appeal is Agenda Item 21.3. It would be very helpful if you can attend in person to show community support. However, the Building may be entirely closed or entry may be very limited. If you can make it, please do so. We urge you to wear a RED shirt if possible. There is parking in the adjacent parking structure but it is not free. Parking in the outside parking lot is free but only for 2 hours.
We also urge you to IMMEDIATELY do the following:
1) Sign the online Petition opposing Cajalco Square at https://www.change.org/p/riverside-county-bd-of-supervisors-arco-am-pm-stop-riverside-county-bd-of-supervisors-approval-of-cajalco-square-project-on-july-14
2) Submit your respectful opposition comments online on the BOS form at www.rivcocob.org/comments The requested “Agenda Item” is 21.3.
3) Call the BOS Clerk at 951/955-1069 to Register to speak at the hearing.
4) Send your respectful opposition letter and evidence to Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 4080 Lemon Street, First Floor, POB 1147, Riverside, CA 92502-1147, so that it arrives no later then Monday, July 13. Send a copy to District 1 Supervisor Kevin JEFFRIES, 4080 Lemon Street, Fifth Floor, Riverside, CA 92501, also before July 14.
5) Email your respectful opposition letter and evidence to Kecia HARPER, Clerk of the Board, at cob@rivco.org so that it arrives no later than Monday, July 13. Email a copy of your email to District 1 Supervisor Kevin JEFFRIES, at district1@rivco.org, also before July 14.
6) Call Supervisor Kevin JEFFRIES at 951/955-1010 and tell him you strongly opposed Cajalco Square.
The following are some of the reasons why we so strongly oppose this Project:
WHY CAJALCO SQUARE MATTERS!
WHY YOU BETTER CARE NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
The Greater Lake Mathews area (between the 15 and 215 freeways, and between State Route 74 and the southern city limits of Riverside city) is an enclave that the Riverside County government long ago promised would be preserved as rural, agricultural and equestrian.
Cajalco Square matters because, if allowed to move forward, Cajalco Square will:
1) be viewed as another, important step, a foot in the door, in changing Greater Lake Mathews from a rural enclave into more suburbia;
2) cause Riverside City and Perris to interpret this as a signal that Greater Lake Mathews is being opened to development just like what occurred in Woodcrest and Orangecrest, and reignite past annexation interest and efforts;
3) significantly increase commercial, commuter and other vehicle traffic on Cajalco, El Sobrante, Wood, Gavilan, and Santa Rosa Mining Roads;
4) increase pressure for significant expansion of Cajalco and El Sobrante Roads into expressways similar to the 91 through Corona as already in County long term plans;
5) increase pressure to revive County plans for construction of the Mid-County Parkway through the Plateau;
6) significantly increase the presence of transients, homeless and criminals southward and towards the rural heart of Greater Lake Mathews;
7) encumber, strain and increase the need for police, fire and other emergency services to service the project, services already barely provided within Greater Lake Mathews;
8) provide a refueling outlet for diesel trucking traveling along Cajalco and El Sobrante Roads, Gavilan Road, and Santa Rosa Mine Road;
9) increase unnecessary liquor, tobacco and gambling purchasing locally and bring it closer to the Plateau;
10) increase criminal activity in an area presently free of crime and bring crime closer to the Plateau;
11) drain pollutants into the channels draining into Lake Mathews;
12) encourage developers to purchase, seek rezoning and develop real estate throughout our community representing that the nature of the community has changed;
13) be effectively split in two as the lowlands beneath the Plateau and along Cajalco Road will become the new southern limit of Riverside city;
14) encourage gas and diesel station developers to build mega stations with convenience stores, car washes and other businesses at every corner imaginable throughout Greater Lake Mathews including at
Gavilan Road and Idaleona,
Gavilan Road and Lake Mathews Drive,
Lake Mathews Drive and Cajalco Road,
Gavilan Road and Cajalco,
Cajalco and El Sobrante,
Cajalco Road and La Sierra,
Gavilan Road and Santa Rosa Mine,
Cajalco Road and Smith/Harley John,
El Sobrante and La Sierra,
Santa Rosa Mine Rd & Piedras Rd. ,
Santa Rosa Mine Rd. and Post,
Post and Ellis,
Old Elsinore Rd. and San Jacinto Ave.,
Idaleona Rd. and Piedras.
15) encourage every eager and vigilant developers and realtors to bring business and high density housing development throughout our enclave, transforming us from rural, agricultural and equestrian;
16. further displaces wildlife from their natural environment;
17. eliminates existing, dedicated equestrian and hiking trails through the property.
Most of us remember when Orange County was virtually nothing but orange groves everywhere. You fled the OC for the simple and quiet life of the country. Don’t let Greater Lake Mathews become just another OC because it will before you know it unless you make your opposition heard now.