Sometimes attending a meeting of the OB Planning Board is like eating a very large artichoke. One has to take time and chew on some pretty tasteless material before the heart of the matter is even the least bit savored.
The Board meeting of 3/2/11 was like that for me. District 2 Representative Scott Therkalsen provided the first taste in getting the Board to call for a special meeting regarding the city’s proposed ordinances to restrict the medical marijuana dispensaries. The meeting will be at 6:30 P.M. March 16 in the OB Rec. Center.
…and there’s a new staff member for Ocean Beach in Councilmember’s Faulconer’s office. His name is Michael Patton and he can be reached at mpatton@sandiego.gov . He is now available for you to spice up his day with a virtual OB earful.
Board Chair Giovanni Ingolia set the table for O’Bceans and loyal Rag readers to dip into some of the vacancies on civic boards and commissions by laying out the vacancies … and giving us the utensils to apply, which will provide an appetizing selection for any civic enthusiast (that is if you can stomach the fact that our ‘strong’ mayor has the final say on appointments)
After the warm up of ‘housekeeping’ items the Board began to get to the main course. A suggestion by O’Bcean Stan Smith, (Non Agenda Public Comment) that the OB VFW Post consider a new home in the officers quarters of the former Naval Training Center (NTC) was passed upon because of the necessary change of zip code.
What really got the Board in a stew was the idea presented by city staff (Sarah Chavez) to continue working on the $3M OB sewer project through the summer building moratorium. The cost to taxpayers in adhering to the moratorium was weighed against the interests of local businesses. With Gary McKany (Point Loma Gas & Market) Gladden Fleming (The Inn At Sunset Cliffs) and Denny Knox (OBMA) speaking for the local business community the Board was prepared to cook up an entirely different recipe for construction. What the Board came up with was a timeline that would allow work to pierce the moratorium up to the point effecting the Sunset Cliffs corridor.
One question was served to the Candidates Forum Segment;
What do you see as the most compelling issue facing the Ocean Beach Planning Board in your next term?
“Completion of the Precise Plan update” -Nancy Taylor, Dist. #1 candidate
“How the community will interface with the city given the economic realities, while opposing paid parking and maintaining OB community zoning” -Craig Klein, Dist. #4 candidate
“Development issues not important…how the community will provide to the general fund in relation to issues such as paid parking and beach advertising” -Brittany Taylor, Dist. #5 candidate
“Development is a problem due to economics. Protect the current floor area ratio from city pressure to adapt a more profitable (to developers) one” -Dr. Jane Gawronski, Dist. #6 candidate
Also a reminder that the election will be on Tues. March 15 between 4-7 P.M. at the Rec. Center.
And so with no dessert I was left to sop up the final reports:
- -The OBMA is now in association with the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau (ConVis)
- -The city is exploring the idea of converting Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to a two lane one way during rush hour
- -The Board will appeal a decision of the Planning Commission to allow for a three-story development at 5164 W. Point Loma Ave. That will be on March 10 at 9 A.M. 12th Floor (Council Chambers) 202 ‘C’ Street.
Bon Appetite!
Sometimes attending a meeting of the OB Planning Board is like eating a very large artichoke. One has to take time and chew on some pretty tasteless material before the heart of the matter is even the least bit savored.
The Board meeting of 3/2/11 was like that for me. District 2 Representative Scott Therkalsen provided the first taste in getting the Board to call for a special meeting regarding the city’s proposed ordinances to restrict the medical marijuana dispensaries. The meeting will be at 6:30 P.M. March 16 in the OB Rec. Center.
…and there’s a new staff member for Ocean Beach in Councilmember’s Faulconer’s office. His name is Michael Patton and he can be reached at mpatton@sandiego.gov . He is now available for you to spice up his day with a virtual OB earful.
Board Chair Giovanni Ingolia set the table for O’Bceans and loyal Rag readers to dip into some of the vacancies on civic boards and commissions by laying out the vacancies found here:
http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/boards-commissions/#etuv
…and giving us the utensils to apply here:
http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/boards-commissions/application.shtml
Which will provide an appetizing selection for any civic enthusiast (that is if you can stomach the fact that our ‘strong’ mayor has the final say on appointments)
After the warm up of ‘housekeeping’ items the Board began to get to the main course. A suggestion by O’Bcean Stan Smith, (Non Agenda Public Comment) that the OB VFW Post consider a new home in the officers quarters of the former Naval Training Center (NTC) was passed upon because of the necessary change of zip code.
What really got the Board in a stew was the idea presented by city staff (Sarah Chavez) to continue working on the $3M OB sewer project through the summer building moratorium. The cost to taxpayers in adhering to the moratorium was weighed against the interests of local businesses. With Gary McKany (Point Loma Gas & Market) Gladden Fleming (The Inn At Sunset Cliffs) and Denny Knox (OBMA) speaking for the local business community the Board was prepared to cook up an entirely different recipe for construction. What the Board came up with was a timeline that would allow work to pierce the moratorium up to the point effecting the Sunset Cliffs corridor.
One question was served to the Candidates Forum Segment;
What do you see as the most compelling issue facing
the Ocean Beach Planning Board in your next term?
“Completion of the Precise Plan update”
-Nancy Taylor, Dist. #1candidate
“How the community will interface with the city given the economic realities, while opposing paid parking and maintaining OB community zoning”
-Craig Klein, Dist. #4 candidate
“Development issues not important…how the community will provide to the general fund in relation to issues such as paid parking and beach advertising”
-Brittany Taylor, Dist. #5 candidate
“Development is a problem due to economics. Protect the current floor area ratio from city pressure to adapt a more profitable (to developers) one”
-Dr. Jane Gawronski, Dist. #6 candidate
And a reminder that the election will be on Tues. March 15 between 4-7 P.M. at the Rec. Center.
And so with no dessert I was left to sop up the final reports:
-The OBMA is now in association with the San Diego Convention and Visitors Beaureau (ConVis)
-The city is exploring the idea of converting Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to a two lane one way during rush hour
-The Board will appeal a decision of the Planning Commision to allow for a three-story development at 5164 W. Point Loma Ave. That will be on March 10 at 9 A.M. 12th Floor (Council Chambers) 202 ‘C’ Street.
Bon Appetite!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Danny,
Thank you for your coverage of the OB Planning Board meeting last night. I had hoped to attend, but had to deal with an urgent business matter instead.
I have a question regarding the final reports you listed in your article. Specifically, the appeal of the Planning Commission decision — is this proposed development at 5164 W. Point Loma Blvd. or at 5164 Point Loma Avenue?
Thanks for the clarification! :-)
The Cox residence at 5164 West Point Loma Blvd. replicates the three-story Stebbins residence next door. The Board’s concern is with the city’s allowing the OB Precise Plan (the Board’s foundation document) to be dismantled on a case by case basis. But don’t take my word for it. C’mon down to see for yourself. I hope to make public further materials on the Cox residence as the potential for our community to lose much of its scale and style (as represented in the Shipfront houses) is greatest on that street.
Again, thanks for the info! I’ll see you on the 15th!!!
Damnit! I’ve been dreaming of buying one of those old duplexes for years and leaving it exactly as it is – when my kid grows up I’ll stick her on the 1 bed side and me and Mama will live in the 2 bed backing the park…they’re all gonna be mega-mansions unless I find a way to get rich quick. Even then most of them will be, I’ll just proudly own the eyesore of the block.
damn, i hate having the flu….i had to miss this enlightening meeting. sad face. thanx for the great report.
2 lane one way during rush hour? really….whos throwing this out there?
COMPACT, the community planners transportation committee made the report from which this proposal came forth. As a proposal effecting OB it will merit discussion before the Planning Board. That’s why I advise the people to stay informed and involved. One schlub on a blog won’t do it for you. It’s a do it yourself democracy. Go to it Sunshine!
Schlub???
Sunshine, the Precise Plan update is currently in draft format, so it would not be appropriate for me to go into too much detail, but since much of the discussion does take place in public meetings, let me attempt to put some of this into context as a private citizen.
In California, Environmental Impact Reviews are required for most major developments and plan updates. Because of the poor level-of-service ratings for traffic on Sunset Cliffs Avenue during peak periods, the City is required to investigate alternatives and possible mitigation measures. Some of these could have a tremendous impact on our community. And a major consideration here is not only the existing conditions for traffic in OB, but how to plan for the traffic caused population growth of our region over the next 20-30 years.
They types of things being proposed are not so drastic at all. They are discussions about how to handle traffic over a period of decades, and what Danny is referring to is a suggestion to eventually make the last 4 blocks or so of Sunset Cliffs northbound prior to West Point Loma 2 lanes wide for the morning rush hour only. This could potentially improve traffic flows enough to help prevent OB from eventually having to take more drastic measures, in my own personal opinion — while only impacting maybe 15 parking spots for 2 hours a day.
Seth- Thanx for clarifying this hash.
Danny – Thanks for your tireless coverage of the OB Planning Board. It is at the very least interesting to see some comments from the announced candidates. Somewhat difficult to really understand their platforms from the brevity of the comments – but I fully understand that the forum wasn’t very long or in depth. Since you are the resident expert and have the best coverage and attendance of their meetings, do you agree that their personal voting records are consistent with these statements?
There are some comments from representatives on the OBPB website as well: http://www.oceanbeachpb.com/About_Us.html
They are mostly just biographical statements….but at least something to read.
I’m hearing that only 4 districts of the 7 even have announced candidates. That would mean that either we have a large amount of write-in candidates….or there will be vacancies on the board?
Would the Rag not consider hosting a candidate chat/forum/interview — something where the community can get more information on these candidates vice going to find them and talking directly to them? Why not have a chat room set up for them so that people could log-in, ask them questions and then perhaps throw virtual tomotoes at them (just joking).
Law- Thanks for the compliments. I wish I had the answers for the low level of interest in the OB Planning Board but it seems that there are forces at work here over which I’ve no control. I think the OBGO (Ocean Beach Grassroots Organization) did a candidate forum a couple of years ago and it was succesful in generating some interest in board elections (but not to the extent that the Peninsula Planning Board has). But any decisions for the OB Rag will have to come from the almighty editordude.
Dr. Tawny Lanos (as you and RB are aware ) did an analysis of the same situation here:
http://obrag.org/?p=34036
and I welcome her contributions to the community discourse even if I disagree with her premises and methodology. I mean what the hell, whatever works dude! b/t/w-didn’t you write a piece for the Peninsula Beacon when you served on the board? But that was long ago in a place far gone. We both have seen the demographic change and the board reflects those changes. What many of us didn’t see was the context of the structural economic change that preceded the demographics. And the political environment before that!
I think it was OBdude who said he didn’t see a flood of ‘yuppies’ coming into OB after the ****buck$ opened but I’d bet he sees the large amount of luxury foreign vehicles on our streets now. But I digress. As you know community organizing revolves around issues and without concrete manifestations of those issues (the VFW and Wisconsin come to mind) the community tends toward entropy and ossification.
But theres hope. As long as we have venues like the OB Rag, (pity the beacon) to even suggest an articulation of the issues in lieu of their concrtete manifestations is a step forward. So good night and good luck! – Danny
Was there any discussion on the Brighton beach bathrooms? Probably not from Mr. Faulconers’ office other than, “We don’t have the money, we are closing ALL the librairies, the schools, the police and fire departments will be history, your taxes are going up, did we mention no more trash service?, but there is a bright side-We will have a new football stadium even though the team is moving to Los Angeles”. Sorry about ‘Faluconers’ Stonehedge’ at the beach, but if the city EVER rebuilds them, the official signage will be ‘The Kevin Faulconer Memorial Toilets’, what could be more fitting than that to remember his legendary career at city hall!