Planning Commission seeks new trustees, OKs water plans for the Shores
By Dave Schwab
The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) is recognized by the City of San Diego to make recommendations on local land-use matters. The LJCPA will hold its annual Trustee Election on Thursday, March 1 to fill six seats of a 3-year term that expire March 2015, plus one vacant seat with a term that expires March 2013.
To be a candidate, one must be a member of the LJCPA in good standing and have attended at least three LJCPA meetings during the 12 months prior to the March 1 election. Attendance can be verified at https://www.lajollacpa.org/members.html.
Let a trustee know of your interest or send an email to info@lajollacpa.org by Feb. 2. A Candidate Forum will be held during the Feb. 2 meeting at La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St., which begins at 6 p.m. Candidates will be given 2 minutes to present their background and interest in becoming a trustee. Trustees meet the first Thursday of each month. Upon election, they receive a brief training of land development law and processes. The meetings are open to the public and guided by bylaws, city policies, and the Brown Act to ensure the process is inclusive and transparent.
The LJCPA’s work is supplemented by a subcommittee structure that includes: Planned District Ordinance, Development Permit Review, La Jolla Shores Permit Review, Traffic & Transportation, Coastal Access and Parking Board, as well as various ad hoc committees.
As candidates are nominated or self-nominate, their names will be posted at
https://www.lajollacpa.org/elections.html.
For more information, visit https://www.lajollacpa.org.
In other news:
The downscaled, first phase of a 2.26 million infrastructure replacement project along Avenida de la Playa to curb persistent flooding and protect sensitive offshore habitat in La Jolla Shores was unanimously endorsed by at the Jan. 4 meeting.
“This project should serve as a model for how a community, city staff and a City Council District can work together,” said LJCPA trustee Joe LaCava, who made the motion to approve the city’s revamped project. “They (city) listened to us and came up with a much better project. It fits better while addressing flood control.”
Expected to begin in fall 2012 (following the summer construction moratorium) and conclude by May 2013, the project’s initial phase will replace and realign approximately 650 feet of existing storm drain from Camino Del Sol to Paseo Del Ocaso. Also being replaced are 1,200 feet of sewer main and 150 feet of water main.
Work will also include an upgrade to the ocean outfall structure, as well as installing low-flow diversion and trash-collector systems upstream.
Bill Harris of the city’s Storm Water Division said the downsized project is the product of months of deliberation between Shores merchants and city staff in a Construction Mitigation Advisory Group.
“Our intent is to get back with the Advisory Group next week to work out all the details with aesthetics and timelines,” Harris said. “Our tentative target for a start date is the end of September, and 176 days is the maximum for the entire project.”
• LJCPA trustees gave conditioned approval to amendments being considered by the city affecting urban agriculture in the citywide Land Development Code. Proposed amendments would allow residents to have limited numbers of bees, goats or chickens, as well as establish regulations for housing structures like chicken coops.
Trustee Mike Costello, a scientist, warned of the health hazards posed by communicable diseases transmitted by animals. Treasurer Jim Fitzgerald said, “This can change the character of certain residential neighborhoods, and there is no way to enforce (sanitary) regulations.”
• Trustee Devin Burstein submitted a letter of resignation noting business commitments make it impossible for him to continue serving.
• Bob and Kim Whitney are challenging the appointment of Myrna Naegle to replace the late Dale Naegle on the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee. They contend the Naegle’s live-work space on Avenida de la Playa is in violation of city municipal code parking standards, which should disqualify the family from joining the committee.