Yesterday the CCSD posted a progress report on the Build-out Reduction Program plan, specifically the lot merger part of the program. In May 2007, the CCSD implemented the Voluntary Merger Program as part of the Buildout Reduction Program (BRP).  Merging a lot means legally encompassing it with an adjacent lot or parcel, thus eliminating it from consideration as an individual legal entity. This program has been extremely successful with 280 out of the BRP goal of 394 buildable lots now merged.  Click on Lot Merger Summary for all the details.

While this is definitely good news , a review of the Buildout Reduction Report reveals

a total of 1,360 lots that are part of groups of lots that are in common adjacent ownership (CAO). If they assumed that ALL of these CAO groups merged into single lots, a total of 986 vacant lots would be merged. Based on an analysis of the various CAO ownership scenarios that exist (e.g., single vacant lots that are attached to built lots, vacant lot groups that have “odd” numbers of lots such that at they are unlikely to be divisible into more than one legal building site, etc.), the consultants have conservatively projected that 394 voluntary mergers would occur (i.e., 40% of the theoretical maximum of 986 lots).

According to the Buildout Reduction Report:

The Buildout Reduction Program seeks to retire or merge enough potential building sites so that there is a near match between those who are authorized to build under the cap of 4,650 existing and new residential water connections, and the number of suitable building sites. This will happen over a projected 22 years.

I’m still working out what this all means for the cost of the BRP and the future of Cambria development. Look for more on this soon. Until then, you can visit the CCSD’s website to download the Reports and information about the BRP. Below are some of the numbers:

Lots to remain undeveloped                                                                                     3,357
Lots already retired                                                                              289
Lots owned by conservation entities (but not retired)          36
Surplus lots owned by County                                                          30
Lots in Special Project Area  1                                                          579
Lots in Special Project Area 2                                                          337
Orphaned lots                                                                                         255
Total Non-buildable lots                                                                                             1,526
Remaining residential lots to be retired and/or merged                               1,831

Total lots to be retired, merged or acquired                                      1,831
Retirements contingent on transfer of commercial EDUs            16
Voluntary/Program retirements                                                            542
Mergers of vacant lots with existing built lots                                   394

Remaining lots to be acquired                                                                  879

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