Land-use changes pave way for Lakeside community

SITE OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT: Lakeside Temescal Valley, if approved, would be a 370-home housing development built on 67 acres between Lee Lake and Temescal Canyon Road. Photo: John Lewison

Action taken by the county’s Board of Supervisors at the Jan. 31 meeting could allow a housing development to built next to Lee Lake on Temescal Canyon Road, south of Indian Truck Trail.

The 548-acre, 13-parcel property that surrounds the lake and extends into the Temescal Mountains, was owned for three decades by a business that specializes in recreational fishing. The company stocked the lake with trout and catfish, and charged a fee to allow fishing there. The property was a sold a few years ago to Summit Land Partners. Lee Lake, called “Corona Lake” by the fishing concessionaire, is owned by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

Summit wants to build a gated HOA community – Lakeside Temescal Valley — on property located between the lake and Temescal Canyon Road. The about 370 homes would be clustered on land already disturbed by the fishing concession. Summit would purchase reclaimed water from EVMWD to keep the lake filled, which would be for the private use of Lakeside residents.

The general plan foundation and land-use changes approved by the supervisors would allow the homes to be built, but would permanently conserve the mountains above the lake against future development. Of the 548 acres, 12.3 percent or about 67 acres would be developed.

While the land-use changes were approved, the development plans must still be reviewed by the county Planning Commission and then approved by the Board of Supervisors at a date yet-to-be determined. Both meetings would involve public hearings, giving people the opportunity to comment either for against the project.