City Council hearing on environmental appeal for Whale Watch Way in La Jolla postponed until Feb. 6

An appeal of an environmental negative declaration for demolition of an existing single-family home at 8490 Whale Watch Way in La Jolla Shores, considered by some to be out of scale and character with the surrounding community, has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 6 starting at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers on the 12th floor of City Hall, 202 C St. in downtown San Diego.

The hearing on the environmental document for the project was postponed from Jan. 24 due to Council time constraints. The project proposes tear down of an existing dwelling and replacement with a new one.

The appeal has been filed on grounds that this project could only be built in La Jolla Shores because Floor Area Ratios (FARs) there — guidelines determining the proportionate size of homes allowed on lots — is far less restrictive in the Shores than it is elsewhere in the city of San Diego.

City staff’s recommendation is to deny the appeal and adopt the negative declaration, which holds there are no environmental impacts associated with the project that could not be compensated for.