Editor: The following is an opinion piece by Michael Winn who is a strong proponent of creating a town council for Point Loma, and as such does not represent the views of the OB Rag staff.
Point Loma Town Council and Peninsula Community Planning Board – Are They Duplicative?
By Michael Winn
The Peninsula Community Planning Board reviews project proposals and votes based on findings about whether a project before it meets code requirements. The Planning Board’s vote isn’t binding on the City Planning Commission, the Planning Board has no authority — it’s advisory.
Town Council and Planning boards are elected by some of the same people as are county supervisors, city council members, state and federal legislators but Planning Board are less formally elected and not covered by state election code. Planning Board members are elected by fewer than two tenths of one percent (0.2%) of the Peninsula population or less.
Point Loma Town Council (PLTC) directors are elected by residents of districts. In addition to reviewing policy governing development within districts from which council directors are elected, they voice the political will of their districts about energy cost, traffic, airport and port operations and, acting as a group, they have input to regional matters.
PLTC is the community’s method of creating consensus in Point Loma about land use policy, a process that defines the vision of the community. PCPB evaluates how proposed new projects comply with existing land use policy.
As a vehicle for revising the Peninsula Community Plan, the democratically elected structure of PLTC allows it to represent the public interest about quality of life.
The environment is like the back of our hands, constantly present and so familiar, we don’t see it; we’re not aware of its presence unless something changes.
This property is at the corner of McCall and San Elijo. For several decades, four families lived in cottages that characterizes this La Playa hillside community.
The Peninsula Community Plan currently favors redevelopment of this property in ways that will occlude view corridors enjoyed by the public and neighbors.
The Coastal Act and historic designation can help protect the public’s interest but revising the Peninsula Community Plan could help the community preserve natural qualities that distinguish Point Loma from other parts of San Diego.
Our attention is drawn to images that emotionally impact us. Sometimes things that there all along we didn’t recognize or notice until they were gone.
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