DATE:
TO:
FROM:
CONTACT:
SUBJECT:
Summary:
AGENDA REPORT CityofPoway
October 20, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Tracy Stevens, Assistant City Manager
Tracy Stevens, Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
Acquisition of 1 Boulder Mountain Road
CITY COUNCIL
The City has negotiated the purchase of 33.6 acres of high value open space (APNs 275-260-28, 275- 470-21, and 275-470-24) located on Boulder Mountain Road, pursuant to the City Council policy to acquire open space parcels with habitat when available, consistent with the Poway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan.
Recommended Action:
It is recommended the City Council adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement to effectuate the purchase of the Property for $1,185,000.
Discussion:
Per City Council direction, City staff is consistently looking to purchase open space land within the City, particularly if it contains habitat, is in ridgeline areas, or otherwise makes economic sense. The City uses funds obtained from habitat mitigation fees to make these purchases, maintained in the City's Habitat In-Lieu Fee Fund. A key objective of the Poway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan (PSHCP) is to maintain viable populations of biological resources. The PSHCP establishes criteria for developments to mitigate impacts to biologically sensitive lands. Mitigation can occur through the preservation of similar habitat on or off-site or the payment of an in-lieu fee.
Through the use of the Habitat Mitigation In-Lieu Fee Fund the City can acquire land to meet preservation objectives. The PSHCP provides criteria to assist staff in evaluating appropriate parcels for acquisition using the Proposed Resource Protection Area (PRPA) priority acquisition list. The PRPAs were delineated based on their value to the preserve system and potential risks of loss to development.
The City was approached by an individual (Lyle Arnold) who was under contract to purchase 33.6 acres 1 of 15
October 20, 2026, Item #10
of open space property located on Boulder Mountain Road (the "Property''), offering to effectuate the transfer of the Property to the City. The Property is zoned Rural Residential (RR-A), meaning that it could potentially be developed in the future, although a portion of the property is subject to an existing biological conservation easement. The property contains habitat and is designated by the PSHCP as medium priority for acquisition.
The City commissioned an appraisal, for which the parties shared the cost. The appraisal concluded that the property is worth $1,400,000 in its "as is" condition, based on a value of $41,642 per acre. The parties ultimately agreed to the purchase of the Property for $1,185,000.
Environmental Review:
The proposed Ordinance is not a "project" subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it will not cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (Pub. Res. Code Section 21065.)
Fiscal Impact:
Acquisition of the parcel and processing fees for the transaction requires an appropriation of $1,125,000 from the Habitat Mitigation In-Lieu unappropriated fund balance (F2520) along with $60,000 from the General Fund unappropriated fund balance (F1000) into a new Project account.
Public Notification:
None.
Attachments:
A. Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Real Property B. Agreement
C. Boulder Mountain Parcel Map
Reviewed By:
Alan Fenstermacher
City Attorney
Chris Hazeltine
City Manager
2 of 15
October 20, 2026, Item #10
RESOLUTION
NO
. 26-
A
RESOLUTION
OF
THE
CITY
COUNCIL
OF
THE
CITY
OF
POWAY
,
CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING
THE
PURCHASE
OF
REAL
PROPERTY
(APNs
275-260-28,
275-470-21,
and
275-470-
24)
IN
ACCORDANCE
WITH
ANY
APPLICABLE
PROVISIONS
OF
THE
POWAY
MUNICIPAL
CODE
AND
STATE
LAW
WHEREAS
, the
City
of
Poway
("City")
desires
to
purchase
vacant
parcels
for
habitat
preservation
and
open
space
pursuant
to
the
goals
and
objectives
of
the
Poway
Subarea
Habitat
Conservation
Plan;
WHEREAS,
the
owner
of
three
vacant
parcels
located
on
Boulder
Maintain
Road,
designated
as
APNs
275-260-28,
275-470-21
, and
275-470-24
("Property"),
has
offered
the
Property
for
sale
to
the
City;
WHEREAS,
the
purchase
of
this
Property
would
result
in
significant
public
benefits
by
preserving
open
space
and
sensitive
habitat;
and
WHEREAS,
the
City's
Habitat
Mitigation
In-Lieu
Fee
Fund
will
be
used
to
purchase
the
Property
in
the
amount of
$1,125,000
with
an
additional
$60,000
from
the
General
Fund
for
a total
purchase
price
of
$1
,185,000;
NOW,
THEREFORE,
BE
IT
RESOLVED
by
the
City
Council
of
the
City
of
Poway
as
follows:
SECTION
1:
The
foregoing
recitals
are
true
and
correct
, and
incorporated
into
this
Resolution
by
this
reference
, as
if fully
set
forth
herein.
SECTION
2:
The
Property
will
meet
a
City
goal
and
Poway
Subarea
Habitat
Conservation
Plan
objective
of
acquiring
open
space
for
habitat
preservation
.
SECTION
3:
The
City
Manager
is
authorized
to
purchase
the
Property
in
accordance
with
any
applicable
provisions
of
the
Poway
Municipal
Code
and
State
Law,
for
no
more
than
$1,185
,000,
and
take
other
actions
necessary
in
connection
therewith.
II II II II II II II
3 of 15
October 20, 2026, Item #10
ATTACHMENT A
Resolution No. 26-
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Poway, California on the 20th day of October, 2026 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAINED:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
Steve Vaus, Mayor
ATTEST:
Carrie Gallagher, CMC, City Clerk
4 of 15
October 20, 2026, Item #10
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ATTACHMENT B
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October 20, 2026, Item #10
Lot 1 of Map 11451 recorded as File No. 86-066304 with the County Recorder of the County of San Diego on February 19, 1986.
OPEN SPACE
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First Amf;rican
Title 111s unwce Company
File No.: 7135960
Location: San Diego County, CA
Legend
C) PARCEL1
P7.777:l 01/27/1986 #86-33002
~ (Aerial, Underground
Public Utilities)
c::J Tract Map #11451
(Open Space)
8 Thu: map may Of may not bl! an ac:curafllt dHaipt.on or ldenlilc..tion or lhe land and II not Wended no, may be ii relied • upon a1 a SI.IN9y of Iha land deplded herit0n. Thl's map II aol-,Y k1lend9CI lo prvvidt otion~kln •• to lh• 9...,.,-.a klation or Iha parc.ol or pare.I, depicted her.ln. Fin.I American TIU• Comp:u"i, Ill subSldbM1 and ,r~la\eJ , 111pr11U)' dlsdalrn any and•• bbilty 1cc NOT TO SCALE alllouor~wt\lthmayrosullffom,-bncaoruMoflhi1map. 15 of 15
October 20, 2026, Item #10
ATTACHMENT C