Family fun in the OB Rec Center’s gym. (All photos by Sane Finneran)
The monthly meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board will be held Wednesday, August 7th, at the OB Recreation Center. Starting sharply at 6:00 pm, with the gavel being banged by Chair Tom Gawronski, the meeting can be readily found in the community room at 4726 Santa Monica Avenue.
The controversial so-called “Police Trailer” is back (“so-called” because there is a real question whether the police actually utilize it) on the Board’s agenda. It’s up for a Coastal Development Permit this time.
Also up before the Board is the Public Facilities Financing Plan, a report by the sub-committee headed by Gio Ingolia presumably on their list of priorities.
Then the Board will segway into what’s being called a discussion on the “Ocean Beach Precise Plan”, more recently titled the OB Community Plan Update Draft. The Board decided at its July meeting to take residents’ comments on the new draft and report back on them for this meeting.
Finally, the members will take up the issue of establishing social media accounts on facebook and twitter. And of course, there will be the usual round of reports by representatives of all the politicos who represent the area in government, as well by the Board’s other projects.
Here is the actual agenda:
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I started this process five years ago.
The OBMA had promised to move the trailer many times.
The eyesore in the middle of the parking lot is a rented trailer from Bert’s Rentals.
It’s paid for by the OBMA.
It’s NOT and S.D.P.D trailer or a city owned trailer.
It’s NOT maintained by the city, the OBMA or SDPD, or ANYBODY ! just look at it !
As usual the OBMA has brought blight to Ocean Beach and then dodged responsibility.
The trailer can be ” used ” if it was placed at Robb Field or the Lifeguard Station without blocking a view or taking a single parking spot.
The OBMA pays to take parking from it’s own members that rely on visitors ?, how many tens of thousands of dollars have been lost in sales and tax revenue over the years ?
In summer the lot is full by 9:00 am and stays full all day.
The three biggest issues with the illegal eyesore are ;
1. Permanently taking 4 PUBLIC parking spaces and limiting the use of 2 other spaces.
2. Blocking PUBLIC views of the ocean from various locations.
3. Quid pro quo, For $ 600 a month the OBMA a PRIVATE organization has PURCHASED police protection for illegal activities, from holding events in public parks and parking lots without permits, to chasing away vendors, to allowing illegal late night and early morning noise by the OBMA., allowing destruction of public property during OBMA events, just to name a few.
The California Coastal Commission issued park & rec. and the city a notice of violation in 20102 for the first two items listed above after the city refused to follow it’s OWN guidelines.
The OB Community Plan Update Draft specifically calls for removal of the trailer, the plan also states the obvious severe shortage of beach parking.
Park & rec. SUPPORTS taking away public beach parking ! in writing !
Many false and misleading statements have been made by Lt. Stone in the application process, it’s a shame a cop can use their badge and uniform in such a disgraceful manner. She just started working in Ocean Beach last November, yes November 2012.
She states in the permit application that it is for ” continued use ” what ? every resident of O.B. knows the trailer is not used.
She also states that is is used DAILY by the beach bike team, what ? she should tell that to the bike team, I have seen police at Robb Field load and unload bikes from patrol cars many times, in fact YESTERDAY I took pictures as they unloaded their bikes.
She also states it is used for special events ? now that’s just plain stupid ! , there are thousands of photos that show what happens with the trailer during special events, the real police trailer is placed in the lifeguard station parking lot, and the eyesore is moved to Robb Field, left in place or moved to a corner of the parking lot.
I could understand if it was a neighbor trying to twist the facts around to add a room or patio, but this is an S.D.P.D. Lt. willfully making false and misleading statements to avoid an environmental impact report.
She knows the impacts are so severe it will not pass an E.I.R., so instead she misrepresents the facts in hopes we are all idiots.
The O.B. planning board previously DENIED her request to keep the trailer permanently in the parking lot, but S.D.P.D and the OBMA want to shove it down the throats of residents regardless of what the ELECTED members of the O.B. planning board say.
I have lived in O.B. fifteen years, It’s taken five years to get to this point, the Lt. has been here less than one year and she REFUSES to discuss options for the trailer. She thought she could wipe out five years of hard work with a bunch of lies and a badge.
What an IDIOT !
If for some odd reason the City of San Diego issues a development permit it will be appealed to the coastal commission, the same commission that issued them the violation. Yes , this is a huge waste of time, sooner or later the trailer WILL be moved.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.
Dear OB Racer,
Well said. On point.
” trailer needs to leave”
Enough said.
Yup, Things sure take a long time to get done or change around San Diego!
In regard to the community plan I heard Mission Bay may transfer Dusty Rhodes (or at least a portion of it) to OB park land which will increase the # of acres. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, what benefit does that bring to Ocean Beach and is the plan being amended to include this?
The deficient park space thing has always been kind of a non-starter for me, at least as far as OB proper is concerned. The calculation omits the beach and Dusty Rhodes. Realistically, there is no real deficiency in park space, or at least nothing that would be addressed by creating pocket parks on vacant lots.
Dang. Only now getting home from work. Looking forward to an update on how the meeting went! I also wish obracer would please just tell us how they really feel about obma. ;)
Jon ,
The meeting went very well, the applicants project WAS NOT approved for a coastal development permit as presented by the applicant.
A board member made a motion to accept the project as presented but NOBODY would second the motion ! , after adding some wording to the motion to limit the trailer to a five year permit, it was approved either 10-2 or 11-1 .
A ” temporary permit ” ?
Another half ass decision by the O.B. planning board, they didn’t have the heart to say no , so they made up a temporary coastal development permit.Perfect.
This is exactly why the planning commission does not take the O.B. Planning Board seriously.
It was a great night.
Can we not get some REAL people on the board?
I have not ever been too impressed with the OBPB, ever, in 20 years of following them. It seems like I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. This is so unbelievable. All wanna be’s.
You’ve got the tail wagging the dog. No power to do anything and then no moral compass to do the right thing. Good ole boys club.
It’s a pretend board that needs to grow up and not be afraid to do what’s Right.
Things never change except for the worse in OB.
And, get rid of marshmallows too.
I hope the OBRag does a story on how each board member voted in their districts, their constituents need to know they are not being represented.
The board members where led to believe if the trailer goes we lose a police presence in OB , are they REALLY that ignorant ?………….. yes they are.
The community of Ocean Beach and the rest of San Diego does not want the trailer in the parking lot.
Police : YES Trash Pile: NO !
Bottom line the development permit for a permanent trailer was NOT approved, just watered down to make it worthless, for that, I thank the spineless board.
It’s still a long way before the permit is issued, next is an environmental review of the trash pile, oops ! they forgot about that.
I support the police trailer. There is a lot of crime along the sea wall where it is located, and having it there helps to deter it. It also allows police a place to fill out paperwork rather than idling in their cars or returning to the Western Division station, 10 or more minutes away.
There are 3 story buildings just to the east that are much taller than the 10 ft trailer. How does it block a view? From the back of the parking lot? The view of the dumpsters behind it from the street?
Do you actually think this ” crime” occurs when the trailer is occupied? If there is a LOT OF CRIME that must mean the trailer is a shame….
I my estimation for the police to randomly be at various locations (doing the tasks they would do in the trailer) instead of holed up in the trailer is much more of a crime deterrent. The element that hangs out at the wall buying , selling and using drugs moves a few blocks when SDPD shows up. The minute they leave that same element comes right back to the wall to continue with the activity that sours the name of Ocean Beach. That trailer does nothing other then to let the crack heads know when SDPD is present for 15 0r 20 minutes. SDPD need to get a little more creative in police work. The street guys have them figured out. I think the trailer is a way SDPW says ” look we are here doing our job” when in reality it a break room.
What happens in other parts of SD where SDPD does not have a Berts rental to operate out of…?
What has the trailer done to deter crime in the last 10 years ?
are saying it has helped ?
How many calls to police have you made for illegal activity in front of the trailer ?
I have made more than 100 calls, mostly for violent crimes, the trailer does not call.
The Coastal Commission among other city & state agencies have determined a public view is blocked from various locations, if you don’t see that , your ignorant.
Police write reports while sitting in the trailer ? bullshit ! , they sit in their patrol car at the entrance to the parking lot, ready to place the car in drive and respond to a call in seconds.
If , big if, a police officer is in the trailer and he/she got a call they would have to lock the trailer, get to their patrol car, unlock the car, start the car then respond to the call, does the trailer really increase response time ? of course not.
As I mentioned before , this is a win for those that want the trailer gone, bottom line the board did not approve the project as presented, they lack the ability to say no when it’s the right thing to do, instead they get creative with their approvals.
The city’s planning commission looks at these findings for what they are, inconclusive, misguided and weak.
11 members of our community voted to take parking away and maintain an eyesore in the middle of a beach parking lot. COMPLETE IDIOTS !
racer, aren’t you a homeowner in that alley directly up from South Beach (aka the only person whose view is even slightly being impacted here)?
Not saying that to discredit you here. If the point is valid, it doesn’t matter what the interest is of the person representing it. just sounds like you have an axe or twelve to grind about this.
Seth, Good point, yes I live on ” Surf Check Alley ” as the sign on the OBMA office calls it. MY view is barely blocked by the trailer, my neighbors and those that live behind me are blocked more than I am. At least a couple hundred people drive or walk by daily to check the surf or half of it depending what side of the trailer you are on.
The Coastal Commission, the City’s development services department, the local community plan all say it blocks a PUBLIC view, not to mention common sense.
Private views are NOT protected, let me repeat
PRIVATE VIEWS ARE NOT PROTECTED.
The trailer is an eyesore taking up badly needed parking spaces.
The axe to grind is from FIVE years of red tape and politics for a trailer that was placed without a single permit in the middle of a crowded beach parking lot, it’s illegal, you and I have to follow the law, shouldn’t the police ?
How long would that pile of trash lasted in ANY other beach parking lot in CALIFORNIA ?
There is no question police need a place for breaks, meetings etc.
To believe that without a trailer we lose our police presence is ignorant, like our planning board. The trailer can serve the same purpose at the lifeguard tower or at Robb Field where police really store the bikes and quads in the unmarked shipping container. I have photos of police taking bikes in and out.
You may have noticed things have improved along the boardwalk and at parks and along Newport Ave, a new captain took over western division, he has taken a different approach at the problems in Ocean Beach, it has NOT included a trailer in the middle of the parking lot, and it’s working great.
If SDPD western division needs this trailer so bad why was the LT. by herself ?
Reality sucks for the LT., that’s why.
Thanks for the question Seth.
All good, racer. As someone who was recently on the OBPB for 4 years, I think you have raised some good points here. I will be perfectly honest and say that in all the years I have lived a few blocks from the trailer, I don’t recall seeing anyone come in or out of it. Also being honest, I haven’t really heard all the info on this and not really sure about the full scope of it all. Having served with many of them. I do think the depiction of the board here in the comments section is a bit unfair. No shortage of people who are perfectly willing to take a stand on issues of importance for the good of their community.
Seth, I encourage you to attend the meetings, it’s very one sided.
The Lt. took took about 11 minutes for her presentation, I was cut off at just under 2 minutes, when one of the board members wanted to speak against the project he was cut off several times by the chair.
I was shocked to hear the chair say ” I’m not sure why you are hear again ” that’s just plain ignorant.
The chairman of the board claims to NOT know why a project was thrown out by the planning department ? Really ?
The board is run by two or three people the rest are puppets for the OBMA and scared to do the right thing.
I stand by my opinion, they are complete idiots.
Prove me wrong , PLEASE.
Someday they will have to answer to the constituents they claim to represent.
Apparently you are a misinformed, misguided, Blind and a person who just copies someone else’s comments.
Write when you don’t sound foolish. Really
So sorry. This meant to go under “X” comment.
Not you. OB Racer.
Mr.X,
Apparently you are misinformed, misguided, Blind and a person who copies someone elses comments.
Comment when you understand more fully the police never use the trailer.
Thank you.
Was hoping to make this one, stuck at home cooking soup for a convalescing wife…bet there were some fireworks. Got anyone covering this for a followup, Frank?
No, sorry Dave, but I missed the meeting also.
News on the new police trailer supplied by the OBMA
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/apr/10/stringers-police-trailer-rolls-ob-pier-parking-lot/
Smaller trailer that still does nothing. Shame that the OBMA thinks a temporary trailer is an improvement to the beach front.