Development of Rancho Guejito
The Rodney Company owns the Guejito and is controlled by Theodate Coates who is the heir of Benjamin Coates. Coates bought the ranch in 1974 for around $9million. It was recently reported in local newspapers that the idea of developing10,000 homes on the Ranch had been discussed with the County. Entitlement to develop was to be in exchange for preserving the Original Mexican land grant and other areas probably in the Highlands portion. Development would occur on the remaining 6000 acres. Representative of the Rodney Company Rikki Schroeder denied any mention of the 10,000 number for development but confirmed the reported preserve area. She also stated that the Rodney Co. will continue to pursue development until an agreement is reached that will make development on the Ranch profitable. A proposal may be made to the County for development in upcoming months. She acknowledged that under conditions where the land grant is preserved development would probably be in the southern pasture in the area historically known as Vineyard and the Maxey Ranch. Access would be up over the San Pasqual slope from Highway 78 in the San Pasqual Valley near Guejito Creek . Water supply and treatment are a large concern and numerous studies are underway.
A federal study was done on this area in 1902. This site was under consideration as an Indian Reservation for the Cupeno who were then living at Kupa near Warner Springs. The site was rejected in favor of what is now some part of the Pala Reservation. This study was widely quoted from in an Times Advocate article written by Eloise Perkins in 1974 and sheds some light on the character and water availability of the suggested site. Please also see other Vineyard pages
Current zoning and proposed zoning alternatives for GP2020 are mapped HERE. These maps include analysis of the allowed development under each plan.
I will happily post any further information or corrections provided by the Rodney Co. or their representatives. Not withstanding that I will attempt to map development possibilities with the information at hand.