• News from our Neighboring Homeowners - Update:

  Submitted by John Gueldner - June 13, 2005
  Casa Cabanas, Playa Tortuga

  From Laguna Hills Homeowners Assn. and Steve Deutch:

  Hello to all of you,

  I have received copies of the last several e-mails sent out amongst you and just wanted to give my opinion as one of the Developers and pass on the information that I have knowledge of.

  I know that Wesselink's original plan was to have his main entrance to El Encanto be through Puerto Los Cabos, continuing along at aproximately the same elevation as the old beach road (where Puerto Los Cabos is currently putting in their last cul de sac). Puerto Los Cabos would not allow that and his next idea was to enter in from his top corner up near Scott Honnen's home (the one portrayed on the 3-D plan some of you have referred to). He talked to us about buying a Lot or two and coming through Laguna Hills. We did not like any of the ideas that he came up with and also refused. We didn't want that much extra traffic coming through L.H. As far as I know he is now planning on his only entrance to be through our land that is between the beachfront Lots and our first row of Lots in L.H. We understand that we have an obligation to give access to the beachfront Lots through that property. Rick Wesselink has been in contact with us and has presented plans of what he would like to do. He is hoping that we will agree to give up more land than the minimum that the County has told us would be required, in exchange for him building a very nice, paved, landscaped, access road that takes into consideration the surface drainage of that entire area and includes a real vado at the arroyo. We see that as an improvement to all of the properties in the area if it is done the right way. With all of El Encanto's traffic coming through there, the beachfront Lots, and what is still to be done at Laguna Hills, a well planned, nicely landscaped, surfaced road will be an asset.

  Rene (Pinal) and I do have some negotiating power with Rick Wesselink because of that but that doesn't mean we can demand anything we want. We would like to see that he tries to not block any of the L.H. Lot's views as much as possible. When we first met with him he told us that he would try not to block any views (although that was when he only had three condo buildings in his Master Plan). I believe there is still a possibility that what he is proposing will not be as detrimental as some of you are worried about. There is a lot of difference in elevation between our property and his. Most of his land at our property line is quite steep and for him to build at that elevation would require enormous, expensive retaining walls. We are as surprised as you that he has changed his Master Plan although I believe he has the right to do so as long as he conforms to County and State laws. It is his land. We are not on the frontier any longer and will not be able to stop further development. I believe we need to accept that and try and guide the development around us in a logical and yet as environamentally friendly manner as possible. That is what Rene and I will trying to do at our next meeting with Rick.

  Rene and I do plan to schedule a meeting with the new County Government Administration (as soon as possible) where we hope to address densities, building elevations, access roads, zoning, trash pick-up etc. I'm not suggesting that you cancel your independent actions, I'm just telling you what we plan to do.

  If I was you guys I would definitely follow up on confirming that it is, defending, and continuing to use that beach access in front of you. I heard from Jesus that one time ZOFENAP or SEMARNAP (the agencies that govern public beach accesses) came and opened the fence there where El Encanto had previously closed it. The arroyo near Buzzards is also a beach access but it can't hurt to have more than one beach access for everyone in the back.

  Steve Deutch

• Photography by Barbara Rossi
  
  

  Photography by Barbara Rossi, a Zacatitos resident, can now be viewed at the Barbara Rossi - Photography page.

  We begin a view of her work with some desert nudes.

• News from our Neighboring Homeowners:

  Submitted by John Gueldner - June 1, 2005
  Casa Cabanas, Playa Tortuga

  From Laguna Hills Homeowners Assn.:

  We wanted to update everyone (my list is woefully incomplete as I updated my AOL, losing all email addresses and turned my LHHA notebook over to Kathy, so feel free to cross post this letter) on the developments around LHHA.

  Work is progressing amazingly well on the Puerto Los Cabos marina. Construction on two houses on the beach are underway with the pad for a third laid. The two areas that were open for sales are almost completely sold out. The area nearest us, the most expensive, has been partially taken off the market. All the 4 hotels zones have been taken with one to be a Four Seasons. The center third of the back road is going through what looks like the final paving. From all indications it is a very well financed, planned, and executed development.

  The El Encanto project is back on. They have evidently gotten all the problems with the Environmental Dept. worked out. Large cacti and trees are being moved to a "nursery" for storage while the 18 acre plot is being graded. Unfortunately for those of us on the boundary, they are breaking up all the boulders, a very noisy project. The grading portion will go on for another 3-4 months.

  After a visit to the sales office, the plan now is for 49 single family homes to be built on the beach and up the west side of the property. There is a main street up through the center of the development. Six 3-story condos will spill down the east side with the highest one in front of the Honnens with its own pool. A bit farther down are two more with a pool, then tennis courts. Also in the plan is covered parking along the boundary of LHHA and open parking scattered throughout. The final 3 buildings with a large pool will be clustered in front of and below Jim and Sue Edwards. Five condos have first and second floors of 2 units each, 1,500 sq. feet each. First floor units start at $495,000. The third floors are the penthouses, 3000 sq. feet at $1.1 million. One condo building, one of the lower ones in the center, will have 8-10 1500 sq. ft units and 2-3 penthouses. A desal plant is planned to provide 100,000 gallons of water per day. The finish-outs in El Encanto are really beautiful and the elevations we saw were very nice. It seems that they are planning a really beautiful community, too.

  The master plan seems to be changing frequently and El Encanto does not have a printed version of the plan to hand out. We don't recall the original condo building count. Because we under the assumption that we are in a "rustico" area, and we are under the assumption that in this area, the building code states that buildings are two stories and there are restrictions on density, it seems prudent to find out for sure what the rules are, and what El Encanto has filed for in regard to building permits.

  The road from Buzzard's to the El Encanto gate is in the planning stages. From conversation we heard while we were there, a four lane road with a median with palm trees (lit at night) is the goal. Gloriettas will be at each end for turnaround access. The "lit at night" to me is not pleasant as I am having a problem as it is with light pollution. We are in a "turtle protected zone" and the current, incredibly bright beach lights are a problem with the turtles laying their eggs on our beach.

  With development planned all around us, we should inform ourselves on the current codes and be aware of any requested variations. While we all have so loved our haven in LHHA, we know that progress is inevitable. Insuring that progress follows code is another issue that, now that I am not busy issuing invoices to you all, I am happy to take on to being a "media center".

  We will be happy to send photos, etc to anyone who is interested in this progress. Please, again, feel free to cross post. Let us know if you would like to remain on our "inform us, please" list. We would also be appreciative of anyone who will be travelling to LH to keep us all up to date on any progress.

  Because of all the building in LH and the surrounding areas, we should all be aware of the opportunity of petty theft.




• January 20, 2005 - Over the Rainbow:
  

  Photo submitted by Gary Lemonoff - 10/24/04 picture of Punta Gorda from East Cape Road.

  Visit Photos Gallery Page for scenes of Zacatitos and environs by various contributors.

  click image for enlarged view.




• January 15, 2005 - Panoramas from Mike Clifford

  Two panoramas assembled from photos submitted by Mike Clifford. The first one we'll call:
  

  'A Castle View of Zacatitos':
  
  click image for enlarged view.
  
  And the second one we'll call: 'Where's the La Playita Deposito?':
  

  
  click image for enlarged view.

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