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Residents urge GPAC to drop proposed road widenings, preserve equestrian and rural character
Summary
Public commenters at the Temecula General Plan Advisory Committee meeting on May 14 urged the committee to remove proposed two‑to‑four lane widenings on Inez, La Paz and De Portola roads, saying wider roads would increase speeds, reduce green space and invite higher‑density development.
Public commenters who spoke at the General Plan Advisory Committee meeting on May 14 urged committee members to remove proposed road‑widening projects from the draft general plan, saying expansion would change neighborhood character and raise safety risks.
Dr. Myler Chakrabarty, a resident who identified himself during public comment, said a proposed four‑lane configuration on Tippotilla/De Portola‑type roads would increase traffic speeds and volumes and would be “a catastrophe” for horseback riders, pedestrians and children. “Widening the road would permanently damage the nature of our neighborhood,” he said, adding that neighbors chose the area for an equestrian, low‑traffic lifestyle.
Mark Letourneau, another commenter, told the committee that safety must be planned rather than left to chance, adding that roundabouts and other calming measures can reduce idling and crashes. “If you allow the widening of these roads … we’re going to have increased speeds, greater accidents,” he said.
Louis Todd, a longtime resident, pressed the committee to preserve Los Ranchitos open space and to eliminate proposed widenings on Inez, La Paz and De Portola roads between Santiago and Margarita. Todd said removing those widenings “will save the citizens of Temecula millions of dollars” and better align the plan with environmental and quality‑of‑life goals.
Lee Rozu focused his remarks on land use and transportation, arguing that sustainable planning should reduce the need for vehicle trips through mixed‑use, walkable neighborhoods. Citing Study Area 4 and the planned Altair development near Interstate 15, Rozu said widening should not be the default response to growth and that preserving corridors from unnecessary widening helps maintain community character and reduce impervious surface.
None of the public comments proposed an alternative ordinance or motion; the speakers asked the advisory committee and staff to consider removing or scaling back lane‑widening proposals as the general plan proceeds through staff analysis and environmental review. The committee did not take a vote during the meeting.
The committee chair told attendees that GPAC input will be presented to the Planning Commission on May 20 and to the City Council on May 26, and that staff will prepare a proposed land‑use map to serve as the EIR project description. Public commenters said they plan to attend and follow those hearings.
