Vanessa Springett A Fresh New Voice for Poway
A special message from Vanessa
I am running for City Council to bring positive change, new ideas, and greater accountability and transparency to Poway’s city government. As a non-partisan candidate and lifelong resident, my priority is protecting residents’ quality of life above all else.
Public safety, traffic, and infrastructure will always matter – but we must plan smarter for the future.
Poway Road and Development
We need a Citizen-Based Planning Committee to provide strong oversight, establish clear design standards, and ensure a process that truly represents residents while PROTECTING our “City in the Country.”
Poway’s natural beauty is one of its greatest assets, and as redevelopment continues along Poway Road, we must preserve our city’s character. I support LARGER SETBACKS and a strict 35-foot height limit for future projects. New development should reflect a cohesive identity inspired by civic buildings like the Poway Library and Sheriff’s Station, with landscaping and park-like buffers that maintain an open, inviting feel. Recent projects, featuring oversized buildings, empty retail space, and inadequate parking, highlight flaws in the current planning process.
The Poway Road Specific Plan needs Key Amendments:
The vision behind the Poway Road Specific Plan, a vibrant, walkable corridor with thoughtfully integrated mixed-use development, is one I support. However, what has been approved and built so far falls short of that vision and risks undermining the character and livability of our community.
To better align implementation with intent, key amendments are needed. Front setbacks should be increased to at least 20–25 feet to preserve openness, allow for landscaping, and maintain Poway’s established character. The 35-foot height limit must be consistently enforced, without exceptions, to ensure fairness and prevent incremental overdevelopment. In addition, adequate parking for residents, guests, and commercial uses is essential to avoid congestion and spillover into surrounding neighborhoods.
These changes are not about stopping progress; they are about ensuring that growth is thoughtful, functional, and consistent with the original goals of the plan. Without them, we risk creating a corridor that feels overcrowded, congested, and out of scale with the community we want to protect.
The Farm Development
City leaders and developers must respect community-approved plans.
I supported the Farm Specific Plan approved by voters in 2020 because it promised a balanced, community-focused vision—homes, walking paths, flower fields, local-serving amenities, and gathering spaces. So far, only housing, trails, and limited flower fields have been delivered. I will continue pushing for what was promised, including a restaurant, bar, and coffee/juice spot along Espola Road (not a strip mall), a community-oriented swim/tennis/fitness club, proper maintenance of the flower fields, and completion of the amphitheater and dog park. Lennar and the developer should be required to complete these improvements, in accordance with the plan voters approved, and return HOA control to residents.
I do not support large-scale commercial uses that bring outside traffic, noise nuisance concerns, and the potential for county-wide tournaments, into residential neighborhoods. A commercial pickleball facility is inappropriate here and belongs in business park areas.
Considering my primary residence’s proximity to the Fitness Parcel, I may be required to recuse myself from zoning or land use Council votes concerning Fitness Parcel, which means I MAY NOT VOTE FOR LAND USE OR ZONING CHANGES to FITNESS PARCEL. Outside of these proceedings, I will continue to advocate for full compliance with the guidelines established in The Farm Specific Plan.
Presumed "conflict of interest" does NOT apply to other parcels within The Farm.
Residents’ quality of life must be protected.
Community Appearance, Safety, and Maintenance
I support ongoing efforts to address abandoned and deteriorating properties that pose safety and fire risks. The city should continue strong nuisance abatement enforcement and partner with local organizations to assist residents in need. GVCA has encouraged these measures.
Fire safety must remain a priority.
Fire safety must remain a priority. The city should strengthen codes to ensure removal of dead vegetation and palm fronds. The city should also continue promoting disaster preparedness programs like Firewise USA and local disaster readiness resources such as www.PNEC.com. We are fortunate to have a top-notch fire department in Poway.
Poway LMDs (Espola Road):
Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) along Espola and Twin Peaks Roads are funded by nearby residents through fixed tax assessments that require a vote of property owners to increase.
With no assessment increases approved for over 25 years, funding has remained flat while maintenance and water costs have risen—creating a revenue gap that has led to neglected and lost landscaping along these major corridors. LMD Advisory Group members are negotiating with the city on a plan to restore and better maintain landscaping, including rehabilitation of neighborhood entrances, in exchange for a resident vote to modestly raise assessments and allow future cost-of-living adjustments to ensure long-term upkeep. I support the city fronting costs to make these improvements and fully back collaboration with homeowners to reach a lasting solution. I sincerely hope affected homeowners will support these efforts.
Community Engagement
Poway offers outstanding community programs and services for residents of all ages. The city supports programs for seniors at the Poway Community Center, Old Poway Park Holiday events for families, concerts and day camps at Lake Poway Park, and fireworks. Sense of community is one of the best aspects of living in Poway, and I fully support continuing these efforts. Poway Community Services Department deserves tremendous praise.
Transparency at the City Level must Improve.
Encourage Open, Honest, Transparent Communication with Residents
Residents deserve better information and involvement in decisions that affect them. I support clear, accessible Council agenda summaries on social media, a minimum 30-day period for public input (currently 7), and greater transparency—especially on development. Early, meaningful engagement is essential. I would like to establish regular DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS where the public, council members, and developers can OPENLY DISCUSS upcoming projects, well BEFORE they are brought to council for a vote.
Governance and Decision-Making
I believe in respectful, thoughtful leadership.
Disagreements should focus on policy, not personal attacks. Good governance requires listening, asking questions, and considering multiple perspectives to find practical solutions. Providing time for public to weigh in on matters that affect our community should be encouraged so that proper questions can be asked, considered and answered. City staff provide guidance, but elected officials must think critically, verify information, and prioritize residents when making decisions. Again, I believe that council needs a minimum of 30 days to take proper time to consider resident input before voting on development issues that affect our community.
ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)
I support ADUs for homeowners living on their property who are building for family members or families in need of affordable housing. However, I do not support ADUs in situations where they negatively impact neighbors’ quality of life, particularly on smaller lots or in Planned Unit Developments (PUD’s) where recorded CC&R’s should be respected. While many of these regulations are set at the state level, I would support advocating for reforms that better address parking, lot size, and neighborhood compatibility.
Experience and Qualifications
I have deep roots in Poway, growing up in Green Valley and raising my family in Vineland Hills. My community service includes Chair of Poway City’s Budget Review Committee, President of the Vineland Hills HOA, Secretary of the Green Valley Civic Association, and volunteer work with local schools and youth sports. I’m also active in the Poway Chamber of Commerce, attending Government Affairs meetings regularly.
With a UCLA ECONOMICS DEGREE, I value responsible budgeting and long-term financial stability. I approach issues critically, reading, learning, and considering multiple perspectives before forming my own viewpoint. I am the only non-partisan candidate running for D2. I am free to vote independently, to ensure that the COMMUNITY'S VOICES are represented.
A candidate running for Poway's District 2
Meet Vanessa Springett
Vanessa cares deeply about the community where she grew up. She is an Independent, Non-Partisan candidate focused on keeping Poway a safe, welcoming, and connected place to live. Her priorities include addressing traffic concerns, preserving neighborhoods, and continuing to support local fire and sheriff’s department.