The fate of the proposed Cottonwood Sand Mine Project in San Diego County hangs in the balance, with the San Diego County Planning Commission poised to consider the contentious plan after a recommendation from county staffers to reject the development. The county staff have analyzed the project, suggesting that it may negatively impact the character of the local neighborhood and is not a suitable development for the proposed site. The Planning Commission will finally weigh in on this decision come Friday at 9 AM at the County Operations Center's hearing room, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Originally the site of the Cottonwood Golf Club, the project aims to extract 4.3 million cubic yards of sand from over 214 acres in the unincorporated Valle De Oro area, near Jamul. The plan was initially set to be reviewed today, but has now been pushed to next month. This delay gives additional time for opposition and support to amplify their positions. Developer Michael Schlesinger, whose company Cottonwood Cajon ES owns the land, argues that the mine would provide both environmental benefits through the creation of open spaces and economic advantages by producing local construction sand—ultimately curtailing skyrocketing costs for housing and infrastructure construction and create hundreds of high-quality jobs, Schlesinger articulated in a statement shared by a spokesperson. A report by CBS 8 further elaborates on the developer's assurances of regional benefits.
However, this perspective is far from unanimously accepted. In March, the Valle de Oro Community Planning Group cast a unanimous vote advising against the project, citing concerns over health risks. These potential traffic hazards would affect emergency vehicle routes and have broader environmental impacts. Opposition has swelled with residents and community leaders alike, fearing that their lives will be disrupted by dust, noise, and a transformed landscape.
