Crowd gathered for "Tour" of controversial new plans of the Ocean Park Villas project, Sat., Oct 1.
OB Planning Board Chair Is Accused of Not Calling for a Public Review of Controversial New Revisions
While a number of the members of the Ocean Beach Planning Board are attending today’s (Oct 6th) hearing of the California Coastal Commission to oppose the Commission’s okay of the new design of Ocean Park Villas, back home the war of words between Coastal staff and the Board has escalated.
In the latest staff report on the project slated for approval today by the Coastal Commission at their hearing in Huntington Beach, staff has accused the Chair of OB’s Planning Board himself of holding up a public review of the controversial new plans.
In recent days, members of the Board have complained that the OB Board had not been shown the new plans nor had they the opportunity to hold a public hearing in Ocean Beach on the project.
Now, in a tersely worded statement in the Commission’s amended staff report of October 3rd, Giovanni Ingolia, the Chair, is accused of not requesting a review of the new plans. Eric Stevens, Coastal staff for this region reported that Ingolia was contacted on three separate occasions to see if he wanted the Board to review the revised project. Stevens stated that Ingolia was contacted on July 11th, and then on July 25th, and then as late as September 7th to ascertain whether the OB Planning Board planned on a review. (See the new CCC staff report.)
As of the time of this posting, Ingolia has not responded to our email asking for comment.
Here is Stevens’ statement:
“Project opponents have suggested that the local planning group, the Ocean Beach Planning Board (OBPB), was bypassed and not given the opportunity to review this proposed amendment. However, Commission Staff first contacted Giovanni Ingolia, Chair of the OBPB, on July 11, 2011 to see if they were planning on reviewing the revised project.
Following this initial contact, Commission staff then discussed the project with Mr. Ingolia, and on July 25, 2011 staff sent a copy of the Local Agency Review Form for the proposed amendment (sign off from the City of San Diego) to Mr. Ingolia. On September 7, 2011, staff again contacted Mr. Ingolia see if the OBPB was planning on reviewing the Addendum to 6-08-100-A1 project. At no time before the staff report was finalized, did Mr. Ingolia indicate that the project needed to be reviewed by the OBPB or ask staff to hold off on our review.”
The new amended staff report did not change its overall recommendation that the Commission approve the revised plans for this project that would build 10 condo units in a three-story structure at the corner of Abbott and Saratoga.
(A full set of the revised plans in PDF format are available for download)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
You know,the squeeky wheel gets the grease. Just squeek so loud it can’t be ignored.
Interesting article. Asleep at the wheel or trying to stall a project?
There was a OBPB meeting last night where the Chair spoke to this. Why not send a rep there to ask him about it in person?
Seth, the OB Rag does not always have the resources to send a rep to the OB Planning Board meeting, especially when there is nothing on the noticed agenda.
More over, editordude, let me take this … Seth, Gio was sent an email on Wed, Oct 5 at about 5pm after I read the new staff report. I thought they were outrageous charges, but I still have not heard back from Gio or anyone from the Planning Board about this.
It’s all good, Frank. I’ll let Gio speak for himself, but let it be known that he chaired a meeting last night and was likely on the road at 6am this morning to go speak to the Coastal Commission.