Opponents of Measure J on the San Diego ballot are rallying today, Tuesday, November 1st, at Mission Bay. Opponents include former City Councilmember Ed Harris, the Surfrider Foundation, the Pacific Beach Town Council, and the Pacific Beach Planning Group.
From the group’s press release, they state:
The proposed measure is a terrible idea for both the public and the City of San Diego.
The lack of community involvement, the proponents lack of disclosure of its full implications, the reallocation of Mission Bay Park commercial lease revenue, and the City Council’s ability to add contiguous park acreage to Mission Pay Park, and therefore open the door to more commercial development, makes voting “No” on Measure J an easy choice.
Measure J gives the City Council the ability to add contiguous park acreage to Mission Bay Park. This opens the door to allow more commercial development (i.e., hotels) in Mission Bay Park.
Ed Harris states:
“Measure J was rushed through without proper citizen review. The process did not include any input from community planning groups. Not even the Mission Bay Park Oversight Committee. This measure also allows for more hotels and other commercial activity in Mission Bay Park. We must preserve our park land and open space.”
According to the press statement:
Measure J also reduces Mission Bay Park funding that voters approved in 2008. Prop C was placed on the ballot to ensure that 75 percent of Mission Bay lease revenues above $20 million would stay in Mission Bay Park.
The other 25 percent would be used for the benefit of other city parks. Measure J reduces Mission Bay Park’s revenue share by another 13% even though none of the 2008 voter-approved park improvement projects have been started (dredging, wetlands restoration, De Anza rehabilitation, Fiesta Island), let alone fully analyzed or funded.
Roger Kube – an OBcean and Advisory Committee Member with the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter, added:
“As one can easily determine, additional commercial development is not good for the health and well-being of Mission Bay Park, and ultimately the quality of our central San Diego beaches and our ocean. We strongly oppose any additional commercial development in Mission Bay Park.”
Brian Curry, Chair of the Pacific Beach Planning Group, stated:
“Measure J is a back-door attempt by the Mayor to move lease revenue generated in Mission Bay out of Mission Bay. The Mayor wants to fund other pet projects, such as an underground parking garage in Balboa Park. Measure J directly conflicts with then District 2 Councilmember Faulconer’s previous position when he co-sponsored (with Former Councilmember Donna Frye) Measure C.”
The press release asks – “Should we further reduce Mission Bay funding when the city hasn’t even begun to fulfill the will of San Diego voters in 2008?”
Don’t let proponents of Measure J get away with pulling a fast one on our community that will have long-term consequences for generations to come. Please hold the San Diego City Council accountable for current legal requirements to improve Mission Bay Park, don’t open the door to additional commercial development, and vote No on Measure J.
Rally to Support a “NO” vote on San Diego Measure J
What: Rally to Support a NO vote on City of San Diego Measure J
Who: Ed Harris, Former Councilmember, City of San Diego
Brian Curry, Chair, Pacific Beach Planning Group
Denise Friedman, Director, Pacific Beach Town Council
Roger Kube, Advisory Committee, Surfrider Foundation
When: Tuesday, November 1st, 2016, 5:30pm
Where: Santa Clara Recreation Center
1008 Santa Clara Place
San Diego, CA 92109
Contacts: Denise Friedman | Pacific Beach Town Council | 310-871-8840
Roger Kube | Surfrider Foundation | 619-701-4027
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Prop J can give you a spectacular entryway to OB – a gigantic Marriott Hotel at Robb Field. What is the height limit for Mission Bay property, anyhow? It doesn’t seem to conform to the 30 foot height limit (not even the city’s 30 foot definition).
Nostalgic
There will be no Marriott Hotel at Robb Field. The athletic facility will continue to serve regional active park needs. When I served on the City Council (1995-2002) we were able to fund the expanded Soccer Field at the Robb Field Skateboard Park.
The Height limit for Mission Bay Park is 30 feet. The only exception was the voter approved amendment for Sea World voted on in 1995. Based on the voters intent, the City Council allowed the splash down ride and the education center to exceed 30 feet based on the public charter vote. However, any hotel at Sea World will need to conform to the 30 foot height limit as approved by the San Diego City Council and California Coastal Commission.
Prop J will allow the addition of the old Anthonys Pizza site (now plaza) into Mission Bay Park, thus allowing Mission Bay Park Revenues to fund the final phase of the entryway, if necessary.
It is interesting to note that the Mission Bay Hotel TOT funding was used to fund the final expansion of Robb Field including our skateboard park.
Byron Wear
Councilmember, District 2 (1995-2002)
The point is: a hotel will be permissible at Robb Field under the City Charter Amendment, measure J. This is a complicated formula. And nobody knows if that will or won’t happen. Under the current charter, Mission Bay Park Funds are already used for other parks, as Mr. Wear pointed out. So this amendment doesn’t change that.
Finish the entryway….like add bench in the circular area in addition to the one that looks at a fence? Should have never started a project that couldn’t be finished. Like building a house without a bathroom. No on J.
Next time some group wants to build something ridiculous using public funds, citizens need to step up and shut it down.