Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Construction, zoning changes, and development projects shaping Santee's future.
Boulevard residents pressed San Diego County planning and fire officials over the proposed Starlight Solar project, including evacuation, groundwater and battery-fire concerns. The Planning Commission hearing has been postponed to July 10.
Via East County Magazine
New reporting from East County Magazine shows the Fanita Ranch debate is shifting from the court rulings themselves to what HomeFed and Santee leaders may do next. The 3,000-home project remains one of Santee's biggest questions on housing, wildfire risk and open space.
Via East County Magazine
Construction is underway on a 45-unit affordable housing project in San Carlos, just west of Santee and Mission Trails. The site is familiar to many East County diners: it once housed Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant before the family-owned restaurant moved its San Carlos location to Santee.
Via East County Magazine
Supervisor Jim Desmond is opposing the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink, a 145-mile transmission line that would run through backcountry East County communities and Anza-Borrego. The fight matters for Santee and East County ratepayers because the project could affect bills, wildfire-risk debates and future regional power planning.
Via East County Magazine
A proposed 14.5-mile high-voltage transmission line would run through Crest, Harbison Canyon, Dehesa and nearby East County communities. The project is still early in CPUC review, but residents are already raising concerns about wildfire risk, property impacts and traffic during construction.
Via East County Magazine
A state appellate court rejected the developer appeal for Fanita Ranch, the long-debated 3,008-home project in northern Santee. The ruling keeps the project stalled unless HomeFed seeks review from the California Supreme Court.
Via Times of San Diego
SANDAG is studying the future of the SR-94 corridor, and East County residents are pressing the agency to account for wildfire evacuations, rural travel patterns and cross-border traffic. The plan matters for Santee drivers who use East County routes to reach Spring Valley, Jamul and the backcountry.
Via East County Magazine
Santee's 2026 citywide slurry seal and roadway maintenance project carries an engineer's estimate of $963,000. The city says the work is expected to take 50 working days once a contract is awarded.
Via City of Santee
San Diego County is moving ahead with the next phase of Alpine’s long-awaited community park, but some residents say the proposed site near Wright’s Field could add traffic pressure during wildfire evacuations. The debate matters across East County, where open space, recreation and fire safety often collide.
Via ABC 10News
San Diego County plans to repair or replace sidewalks, curbs and gutters at 143 locations in unincorporated communities, including Lakeside, Alpine, Spring Valley and Pine Valley. The project is aimed at improving walkability, drainage and ADA access, with construction expected to run into mid-2027.
Via East County Magazine
A recurring water main break left parts of Julian without water for nearly two days, forcing businesses along Main Street to work around closures and added costs. The latest outage is renewing calls for a long-term repair to aging infrastructure in the East County mountain town.
Via ABC 10News
SDG&E is planning virtual open houses May 12 and 14 for the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink, a 500-kilovolt transmission line tied to California’s long-term energy demand. The route would run from Imperial County through East County and North County before heading toward Riverside and Orange counties.
Via East County Magazine
A water recycling facility that helped serve Santee for more than 50 years has been decommissioned at Santee Lakes. Padre Dam says its replacement, the East County Advanced Water Purification Program, is expected to begin producing purified water later this year.
Via East County Magazine
The City of Santee has begun construction on a dedicated right-turn lane on northbound Cuyamaca Street to eastbound Mission Gorge Road to improve traffic flow.
Via City of Santee
The California Transportation Commission approved the sale of a Caltrans-owned parcel in Lemon Grove for a 60-unit transitional housing project, paving the way for construction to begin in the coming months. The $11.1 million project aims to address homelessness, including a growing number of seniors on fixed incomes.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A two-year sewer pipeline installation project begins March 16 on Mission Gorge Road in Santee as part of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program. Drivers should expect lane closures and delays through May 2028.
Via East County AWP Program
SANDAG has approved more than $3.5 million in funding for La Mesa, covering a new roundabout at University and Memorial Drive and an update to the Downtown Village Specific Plan aimed at improving mobility and supporting local businesses.
Via Times of San Diego
A public workshop will showcase engineering plans for transforming the Campo Road Commercial Corridor with safer streets and better walkability, funded by a $2.5 million grant.
Via East County Magazine
San Diego County officials are hosting a Feb. 26 workshop to review design plans for transforming the Campo Road Commercial Corridor in Casa de Oro. The project, funded by a regional housing grant, aims to create safer streets and a more walkable village atmosphere.
Via East County Magazine
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