[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6484963,"mediaKeyId","5545869-517431dc281b55b998911e8d8fe1d205","parentId",5545869,"title","Lake Elsinore resident urges different approach to brush abatement in floodplain near Skylark Airport","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",78000,"endMs",252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545869-517431dc281b55b998911e8d8fe1d205&start=78&end=252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545869-517431dc281b55b998911e8d8fe1d205/thumbnail_78000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484963/Lake-Elsinore/Riverside-County/California/Lake-Elsinore-resident-urges-different-approach-to-brush-abatement-in-floodplain-near-Skylark-Airport","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484963-841fdb06040b6ba9a4bc6c59b25dd670/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181880&Signature=FETYl098OJnqepPqWpgLDKNV0ViPP2dxG8Z12ZjajKA~olUWYs4Hq1XTNZQvc9X~GVf1P~oyM8HTK~HgajURwsdm8ucOZZ8gqFi3VpoFS9CFnkhYvBBi2tH2WdW0gIXLiTKAQIBsZhsZld3FoHNEn77DEFBuvHSP0qrtf0yMBNaxYcsrERF04DADCwGfJ5A4Bx~KldWmVMVULtHt8X9sONuiwKHrJrAdEcQhU3UtUOY3HxPVxRycj91F7x7HhVbmW3Tbe9NoVl2chER7DbzU6beIOwa5oAGVqze3YjPicUEYpTaxy-PvTaMXzrvFNDjTWAWLt8ZIzP1vy6ha5fZ9Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lake Elsinore","date","2025-08-05T00:00:00Z","article","Christian Connolly, a Lake Elsinore resident who said he has lived in the city for 20 years, used the meeting’s public-comment period to criticize recent brush abatement work on a section of floodplain adjacent to Skylark Airport and to urge a different approach to vegetation management.

Connolly said he regularly walks the small stretch of land between the airport and the lake and described habitat he has observed over time, including ponds used by herons and other waterbirds, three generations of great horned owls, coyotes and other wildlife. He said recent plowing and weed abatement intended for fire safety has instead favored invasive plants such as black mustard, which he said chokes native meadows and young scrub oaks and eventually creates dense, flammable thickets.

\"What was once a biodiverse sanctuary is now impassable, degraded land,\" Connolly said. He said the degraded condition encourages trash and disrespect of the site and urged the city to \"care for it, steward it, interrupt this cycle, invest in restoration and community and in education and in policies that are shaped by ecology and not just liability.\" Connolly asked the commission and staff to consider restoring the area and creating a wilderness park so residents and children can experience the habitat long term.

Chair Gray referred Connolly to city staff to have the matter considered; staff did not offer a response during the meeting. The remarks occurred during the non-agendized public-comment period and were recorded for the commission’s consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Lake Elsinore - Planning Commission Meeting (trimmed)","oneSentenceSummary","A longtime Lake Elsinore resident told the Planning Commission that recent plowing of a floodplain area near Skylark Airport has degraded habitat and encouraged invasive species; he urged the city to invest in restoration and steward the land as a wilderness park.","taxTitle","Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California","taxId",3775,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484968,"Planning Commission approves temporary Vista Lago charter campus at Albert Heer Ranch Community Park",981,355000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545869-517431dc281b55b998911e8d8fe1d205&start=355&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545869-517431dc281b55b998911e8d8fe1d205/thumbnail_355000.jpg","/articles/6484968/Lake-Elsinore/Riverside-County/California/Planning-Commission-approves-temporary-Vista-Lago-charter-campus-at-Albert-Heer-Ranch-Community-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484968-34cff22486459b2c310625b93f3d6288/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181880&Signature=dgSu2EKkGhXtT3t4ivVzmOOur0L1GzuMlQf9-zNB68~d18dAu8X-c4vLTSKKZ9oHodrjrf~ZgWJKp3It2P71yQci-g99cf~esxKdbKNu6E0fehf7XEm8r6ULzlrs9ZVfD6BnwmeMaMgwYyAT4TB9XIYUUnYc47UzQ0gkCt6My25WLZaeTZ8WAxdYc715yGsmSvx-dEoYxNt3lL0iADwFQWHAQj-HfElW8MxLgUqNDsDfXe277rDEfMndX6I4Z-RaXCpnHEHq1eJfEh7r1k-HuRLAiCpI8H5y~p8T7xWtsDKcUvmcvhqcMc7T~gM5uv4R4273byAVAEOoS93Q3cOLtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake Elsinore Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve a temporary campus for Vista Charter Public Schools, allowing four modular classrooms and one modular office to be installed at Albert Heer Ranch Community Park to serve kindergarten through ninth grade for up to 170 students during a temporary period.

City planner DeWise Abraham told the commission the project would use a portion of the park parking lot at 28200 Lake Street, remove 41 parking spaces temporarily, include temporary utilities, fencing, outdoor recreation and signage, and implement a one-way in/out circulation with drop-off on Lake Street and exit onto Nichols Road. Abraham said staff found the project consistent with the general plan, the specific plan and the municipal code and that other departments had reviewed and conditioned the project. He reported the project is exempt from CEQA and from MSCCP requirements as noted in the staff report.

The applicant, Alyssa Ross of Vista Charter Public Schools, described the organization as a small network of six operating schools and said the interim campus would let the charter serve local families while it develops a permanent site. Ross said the charter is under contract for a parcel on Riverside Drive and expects to be fully entitled and back before the city by March 2026. Ross said the temporary campus would open quickly once approved; she told the commission the project already has building permit review completed, furniture and staff ready, and about 110 families committed at the time of the hearing.

Chamber of Commerce representative Kim Joseph Cousins spoke in support, saying the Riverside County Office of Education approved the charter and that the school would provide choice for families in Lake Elsinore. Commissioners asked about traffic, timing and parking: the applicant said the school would stagger schedules between two groups, provide early drop-off beginning at 7 a.m., and that many families travel together, reducing peak-car counts. Staff said conditions require on-site staff to monitor arrival and departure and that engineering and timing considerations should limit traffic impacts; changes such as adjusting start times could be made after the campus opens.

Commissioners also asked about Americans with Disabilities Act parking; staff said the applicant will provide ADA parking and that the overall park parking supply and event timing were reviewed to avoid shortages. The applicant confirmed temporary utilities will be above ground.

Following the public hearing, Commissioner Peters moved to approve the project. Vice Chair Carroll seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the temporary modular campus as described in the staff report.

The commission’s action authorizes the temporary installation and the design review described in the staff report; other required permits (building, utility connections) remain subject to standard review and approval. Staff noted the city will continue code and zoning updates related to the general plan, and the applicant said it expects to return with permanent entitlements for its Riverside Drive parcel.","The City of Lake Elsinore Planning Commission unanimously approved a temporary permit to install modular classrooms for Vista Charter Public Schools at Albert Heer Ranch Community Park, allowing an interim campus while the charter pursues a permanent site.","actionData","errors"]

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Lake Elsinore resident urges different approach to brush abatement in floodplain near Skylark Airport

Planning Commission approves temporary Vista Lago charter campus at Albert Heer Ranch Community Park