SCPG Needs Your Help Opposing Quarry Self-Storage

The mission of the Sweetwater Community Planning Group is to preserve the integrity of the Sweetwater planning area as a semi-rural community, safeguarding its unique topographical, ecological, historical, recreational, and cultural characteristics by actively engaging residents and advocating for responsible development that aligns with the community's values. 

"The Sweetwater Community is a unique resource within San Diego County. It provides a semi-rural equestrian community which is close to urban areas and employment opportunities. Its surrounding low hills and the broad Sweetwater River Valley, with tree-lined views, provide a visual relief from other residential areas. The western half of the plan area is mostly developed residential land with single-family homes on parcels less than one acre in size. There is little commercial land and no industrial land in the community planning area. The commercial areas along Bonita Road that are in the City of Chula Vista and other adjacent commercial areas provide commercial services to the primarily residential Sweetwater Valley. The other major land use in the area is the Sweetwater River Valley which is devoted to parks, golf courses, and other open space uses."  — Sweetwater Community Plan, San Diego County General Plan

The Sweetwater Community Planning Group will be going to bat for you on April 9, 2025 before the Board of Supervisors to appeal the Quarry Self-Storage approved by the County Planning Commissioners. They are doing this to protect our rural-residential community and keep commercial/industrial structures out of single-residence areas.

This is a tipping point. If Quarry Self-Storage is successful in building a commercial facility in a single-residence community, the door is opened and all Bonita-Sunnyside neighborhoods are at risk.

If you are unable to attend or call in due to employment responsibilities, please write a quick email to show your opposition to the project. Due to the resignation of Supervisor Nora Vargas, our Bonita community has no representation on the Board of Supervisors.

Sample Letter Form

Here is a sample letter for you to highlight and copy so that you have all the correct information included.

County of San Diego Supervisors

County Administration Center

1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310

San Diego, CA 92101 

Your name

Your street address

Bonita, CA 91902

Date

RE: Opposition to Secure Self-Storage

PDS2024-AA-24-003 MUP Secure Self Storage, PDS2021-MUP-21-009, PDS2022-CC-22-0102.

5790 Quarry Road | Tim Karp, Insite Property Group Developer

Dear Supervisors—

[Write your subject matter here. Ideas provided below.]*

Sincerely,

[Your signature]

*Pick from the following subject matter:

• This property is zoned "Rural Residential" (RR) property and is currently slated for 20 new homes.

• 1,332 storage spaces in a 3-story structure (121 ft. x  350 ft.  x  34 ft. high) with 119  RV  spaces  under  3 canopied outside structures (36 ft. x 346 ft.,  72 ft. x 348 ft.,  91 ft. x 471, all 18 ft. high)

• Currently 10,500 vehicle trips through Bonita daily due to SR-125 toll avoidance. This storage facility will only add to our traffic problem

• Require a traffic analysis for all rezones and General Plan Amendments which involve a change from residential to commercial.

• Developer stated the storage units would be used by Spring Valley Swap Meet vendors. This venue is not in Bonita and therefore violates the Sweetwater Community Plan that facilities should be for the use of Bonita residents.

• It is not wanted or needed by Bonita residents – there are 35 existing storage facilities in a five-mile radius of Bonita.

• It introduces industrialization into a rural, residential area

• It causes an incompatible and unsightly blight affecting the adjacent neighborhood, Carriage Hill development, Bonita Golf Course, Sunnyside Stables, Quarry Road and Sweetwater Road residents.

• The storage facility is not acceptable or beneficial to the community, a detriment rather than an asset.

• Commercial development in the CPA consists of three separate areas along Bonita Road and one area on Briarwood Road just south of SR-54.

• Restrict the expansion of commercially-designated areas within the Sweetwater Community to that which is necessary (as shown in a market analysis) to serve the needs of the residents only. 

• It violates four (4) goals of the seven elements of the Sweetwater Community Plan:

  • Maintain the exiting semi-rural residential character

  • Buffer residential areas from incompatible activities which create heavy traffic, noise, lighting, odors, dust and unsightly views. 

  • Preserve and protect individual neighborhoods, distinct parts of the community as well as proposed residential areas by prohibiting encroachment by incompatible uses

  • Strongly discouraging development of industrial use because of the adverse impacts on the rural residential nature of Sweetwater Valley

• "Dark Skies" violation: The dark sky is a natural resource and a spectacular natural wonder highly valued in San Diego County. It allows views of the constellations and astronomical phenomena and is often considered part of the character of undeveloped areas and rural communities.(Refer to “County of San Diego Guidelines for Determining Significance Dark Skies and Glare.” https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/ProjectPlanning/docs/Dark_Skies_Guidelines.pdf ) 

  
  

Send Your Email by April 7th

Email your letter to: bianca.lorenzana@sdcounty.ca.gov by April 7, 2025.

Carpooling is Available

If you are able to attend the meeting, join carpoolers at the Sweetwater Community Church, 5305 Sweetwater Road, across from Pinery and Community Garden. Park at the east end of the parking lot. They will be departing at 7:30AM.

Please contact Harriet or John Taylor if you would like to carpool: johntaylor600@gmail.com

Driving Instructions

If you plan to drive yourself, the County Administration Center is located at 1600 Pacific Highway.

Driving directions: Bonita > I-5 N > Hawthorn Street > Left on Pacific Highway > Right into underground parking.

Your Help is Needed

Please help our Sweetwater Community Planning Group oppose this Quarry Self-Storage facility being built in a residential neighborhood. You can do this by showing up in person to talk, calling in on the phone or writing an email.

Thank you in advance for anything you can do to protect the beauty and serenity of our bucolic community.

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