Speak up on Shores planning rules

If you live in La Jolla Shores, you have an opportunity to make your voices heard right now on a very important topic that will play a role in how your neighborhood deals with development.

And judging from the way emotions are running on some projects now before community advisory boards, this is a good time to speak up about what you would like to see in a revision of the La Jolla Shores Planned District Ordinance - the blueprint for development within the community’s boundaries. You’ll hear people talking shorthand about the PDO, and that’s what we’re talking about here.

Its defined purpose includes protecting property “from impairment in value” and states that development “should be controlled so as to protect and enhance the area’s unique ocean-oriented setting, architectural character and natural terrain and enable the area to maintain its distinctive identity as part of one of the outstanding residential areas of the Pacific Coast.”

That’s a tall order and one that we should all take seriously. It’s one of those “speak now or forever hold your peace” kind of moments. Once the rules are revised, it’s not likely they’ll change again anytime soon.

If you’re not sure what the guidelines say, you can go to the Shores Association’s Web site and find a link to the documents or you can ask any of the directors to help you understand them.

As part of the process of revising the rules for zoning, permits and procedures moves forward, a series of meetings is being held, with the next one on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Rec Center. There’s also an e-mail at LJSPDOreview@gmail.com where you can send your ideas.

The Shores Association, which is leading the mission, is setting up a committee that will take what people say and digest the ideas into a new PDO that will go before community groups, the city’s Development Services Department and eventually the California Coastal Commission.

Obviously, this isn’t an overnight process and it’s one that will see many changes as it works its way through the system. But if the ideas come in early and often, there’s a better likelihood of a document that meets the community’s desires coming out at the the end.

So speak now!