At their last meeting on December 3rd, the OB Planning Board announced that its annual elections will be held on March 10, 2015, and that half of its seats are up for selection. There are also currently 3 vacancies on the Board, so by our count, that’s 8 positions on the Board up for grabs.
Residents, merchants and property owners are eligible to serve on the Board, and anyone so interested must have attended one meeting of the Planning Board sometime between last March 2014 and their January meeting in 2015.
With the highlight on the OB Community Plan as the Grand Marshall of the OB Holiday Parade, the OB Plan recently updated, coupled with the brouhaha that erupted between OB Plan supporters and the San Diego Planning Commission, and then with the subsequent unanimous vote of approval of the Plan by the City Council, there’s been renewed interest in the Planning Board itself. And for the last month or two, the Board was at full strength, 14 members from 7 districts.
Just recently, however, 3 members have resigned – all for different reasons – and they include: Seth Connolly, Rae Hartigan, and Robert Shamoun. That leaves the Board with only 11 members and only two women. Also, it’s not known exactly, but there are not sufficient numbers of renters on the Board to match the proportion of renters in the community. Six of every 7 OBceans rent.
So, women and renters are hereby encouraged to apply.
Truly, being on the Board is a wonderful way to volunteer for the community and experience the “frontlines” of OB’s constant challenge to be the way it is.
Here’s what the OB Planning Board says about serving on the Board – from their website:
Interested candidates must have attended at least one meeting of the OB Planning Board between March 2014 and January 2015.
Serving on the Board
Annual elections for the Ocean Beach Planning Board are held on the second Tuesday of March, and new terms begin in April after the election results are certified. Terms are two years, with the seats in each district staggered so elections occur in alternate years. The board may also appoint members on a discretionary basis to fill vacant seats. (See Members to determine if there are vacant seats.)
All members, whether elected or appointed, must meet the same requirements to serve.
Eligibility Requirements
Community members interested running for a seat on the Board must be:
- at least 18 years of age
- and must have attended at least one regular meeting of the Board.
- all candidates must meet at least one of the following three requirements:Resident of Ocean Beach for at least 30 days; Property owner in Ocean Beach for at least 30 days;Business licensee/owner in Ocean Beach for at least 30 days
- Interested candidates must also gather at least 35 signatures from the district in which they are seeking a seat (signatures must be district residents, property owners, or business owners/licensees).
Maps
Overall map of the OB Planning Area. Maps for the official boundaries of the Ocean Beach Community Plan Area and its seven districts.
Application
The official application, including signature forms, can be downloaded below. It may be used for elections or appointments. Please contact the Board to notify us that you are interested in a seat and to coordinate submission of your application.
Candidate Application (PDF, 400 KB)
Once the candidate’s application and signatures are verified by Board, the candidate will be deemed eligible to serve.
Which OB Planning District Do You Live In?
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Here’s more info of the OB Planning Board:
Purpose
The all-volunteer Ocean Beach Planning Board is recognized by the City of San Diego as the primary advisory group for land use and land development issues in the Ocean Beach community. One of 46 community planning groups across the city, the Planning Board was formed by the San Diego City Council to make recommendations to the City Council, Planning Commission, City staff, and other governmental agencies on land use matters relating to the Ocean Beach Community Plan Area (maps).
The Planning Board evaluates and makes recommendations on proposed development projects and permit applications as part of the City’s discretionary review process. It also advises the City on the preparation of, and amendments to, the Land Development Code, the General Plan, relevant community plans, and other land use matters affecting Ocean Beach as requested by the City or other governmental agencies. Additionally, the Planning Board provides the City with advice on other matters of concern to the Ocean Beach community whenever relevant.
Structure
The Planning Board consists of 14 elected members, with two representatives from each of the seven districts that comprise the Ocean Beach Community Plan Area (see Members). Terms are two years, with the two seats in each district staggered so elections occur in alternate years. Annual elections are held in March, and new terms typically begin in April after the election results are certified. The board may also appoint members on a discretionary basis to fill vacant seats. All members, whether elected or appointed, must meet the same requirements to serve (see Serving).
The Board has four officers—Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer—who are appointed from within, typically following annual elections.
Committees
The Planning Board has one standing committee, the Project Review Committee (PRC), which advises applicants on projects prior to appearing before the full Planning Board. The PRC meets on an as-needed basis on the third Wednesday of each month (see Meetings). The Vice Chair of the Planning Board also serves as the Chair of the PRC.
The Planning Board forms other committees on an as-needed basis, to include the Precise Plan Update Committee, the Public Facilities Financing Plan Sub-Committee, and the Appeals Sub-Committee.
Meetings
The Planning Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. The PRC meets on an as-needed basis on the third Wednesday of each month, also at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. All meetings are open to the public. (For more information and directions, see Meetings.)
Agendas for all meetings are published three days in advance, and can be found at the Agendas & Minutes page and also on our News feed. If you would like to be advised of upcoming agendas and other news, subscribe to email updates using the form at right, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using the links at right.
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