Otay Ranch and landfill

[srini]

Hi,
I tried searching on here regarding this topic and could not find anything. Sorry if this is a repeat post.

Last year, I started looking into buying a house and quickly realized that the areas that I was looking (north county) in were out of my reach.

After a little more research and searching I found out about all the new development in Otay Ranch. So my wife and I went and looked at some homes. Some of them were pretty close to what we wanted (SFH, 3bed, around 1800sqft, 450-500k budget)and I even put a refundable deposit on one of the new home sites.
We then found out the entire Otay Ranch development was right next to the landfill. So I immediately withdrew my deposit and lost the house. But now I’m questioning myself if I made the right call. The prices are still increasing in that development and people are still buying there. I believe there is also another one called Escaya just south of the landfill.
Is it really ok for these new houses to be so close to the landfill? Or do people not realize there is a landfill there? If anyone here has any experience with owning a house in this area/development, I would love to here them.
Are there any other good neighborhoods in SD where I could look for a SFH around 1800-2000sqft in the 450-500k range? I work in the Kearny Mesa area and we do not have any kids yet.
Thanks for your time.

[DataAgent]

I had no idea Otay Ranch was a landfill project. After a quick google search, you made the right decision. Otay Ranch is not a good place to buy a house. Who wants to live on a landfill?

[Ribbles]

There’s no way to make a landfill completely safe. And even if this one somehow is, you’d spend the next decade or two wondering if it’s associated with every little malady you and your family come down with. Who needs the stress?

[srini]

thank you for the responses.
Yeah, that’s why I withdrew my deposit. Just wanted to make sure I made the right decision since people are still buying there and prices keep going up.

any other good neighborhoods I can consider for my price range?

[OROG]

I lived in Otay Ranch for many years and would recommend it. Your feelings about the landfill is understood, we lived a couple of miles from there and it was not a problem. I doubt any of Otay Ranch is built ON a landfill. Before living there, I routinely rode mountain bikes when the area was bare land and there were many cattle that roamed the hills. We have historical photos of bean fields in the area, didn’t see landfills in the pics. I think the operating landfill is all you’d need to stay clear of. I have colleges who enjoy Santee which is near the Sycamore landfill. I have friends who live(d) near the closed Chollas landfill without any issues.

Otay Ranch and neighboring communities have great value for the newer homes and amenities. The hiking trails are well manicured with nice landscape. Schools are great as well. Accountability reports would be the tell all for details you’d be looking for.

Also, Otay Ranch does extend east past the shopping mall which is a few miles from the landfill… My experienced two cents…

[srini]

Thanks for your reply. Interesting perspective.
Since you have experience living close to that landfill, did you ever experience any issues? Specifically, like smell etc.

When my wife and I drove down to Otay Ranch, we really did like the neighborhood and how the area is developing. But the proximity to the landfill scared us away.

[moneymaker]

San Miguel Ranch from what I hear has no HOA or Mello Roos and the houses seem spectacular, though most are 2 stories.

[thejard]

Escaya had some issue with the local water board involving methane. I’m not sure of the state of investigation. I get the need to reuse and reclaim land as well as building higher density, but did someone hide/bribe something in the permit process to cheat the system? Maybe they quarentined the bad and it’s all hunkey dory?

I think it is legitimate enough to warrant due diligence.

Have you seen the units by the 5/54? I like the location dude to it’s proximity to going north where almost all the jobs are

I’m partial to West Chula Vista…for those prices you could get detached house.

Check out Chula-Vista/925-Myra-Ave-91911

Disclosure: I live in Castle Park, close to the HS.

[svelte]

Decades ago, when we first moved to sd county, we lived probably within a quarter mile of the otay landfill for a couple years. Long story. But i can tell you not once did we ever smell or hear anything from that landfill. We lived on the western edge. I wouldnt have any issues buying close to a landfill if i loved the house. I wouldnt buy ON a landfill, but close to one? No problem.

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