By Kimberli Grogan
This regards the proposed project at 1004 Rosecrans Street by Northstar Homes LP developer Michael Contreras.
This project does not qualify for “Complete Communities Housing Solutions” (“CCHS”) and should be reviewed under full normal discretionary review and procedures. CCHS bypasses all zoning, setbacks, height limits and community input. The application provided to the Development Services Department and San Diego Housing did not disclose the contamination on this property.
Disclosures during the purchase by Northstar Homes from San Diego Credit Union that this property used to be an Exxon gas station that had leaky gas tanks was mandatory under California common law and Civil Code 1102 et seq, (Sellers are obligated to disclose known material defects such as environmental hazards.)
GeoTracker information is available to the public which shows all contamination sites and status, such as this site. The leaky gas tanks were removed in 2010 and the GeoTracker case was closed in 2014 as long as this site was kept as a commercial, above ground site. GeoTracker clearly states that any land use change MUST go through corrective action as there is still benzene contamination within the soil as well as lead.
This becomes a Waterboard and CEQA issue under CEQA Guidelines 15300.2. This site also has significant traffic, noise, air and water quality impacts. All of which means this property does not qualify for review under CCHS.
Infill Development Project (Class 32 Categorical Exemption) Disqualify this project. None of this was disclosed by the developer on his application for CCHS qualification.
The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board has re-opened the corrective action for 1004 Rosecrans and can be seen on GeoTracker. The Water Board requires a Soil Management Plan (SMP) for this project to ensure that any contaminated soil excavated would be handled properly and sent to the appropriate facility.
It is the Development Services Department, Mayor Todd Gloria and our City Council Member Jen Campbell’s fiduciary duty to change this project from CCHS to a full,
normal discretionary review for the following reasons:
1. This project is non-compliant with Ministerial Standards
2. It fails to meet CCHS program criteria
3. An environmental (CEQA) review has been triggered
4. Misclassified Application
5. This project is not in a transit priority area now or in the future
6. This area is not in an actual SDA
7. Remediation of the contamination must be addressed and properly disposed of
8. The Waterboard is required to be notified, and a soils analysis must be completed and approved by them
After several emails, phone calls and a protest, we still cannot get a written response or return phone call from any of our elected officials.
No one is saying not to build, just build as zoned. We are Rimby’s (Responsible in My Back Yard) development.
PRJ-1120716
Address: 1004 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA 92106
APN: 531-380-10-00
Developer: Northstar Homes LP
Developer Name: Michael Contreras
Kimberli Grogan is a resident of Point Loma
