Editordude: In the U-T today, Thursday, Oct. 23, they ran a commentary by Harry Bubbins entitled, “Opinion: Time to change San Diego’s outdated coastal height limit” . The Rag has called to our community for a response. Bubbins is a former president of the La Jolla Community Planning Association. Here’s the first rebuttal by Lisa Mortensen.
By Lisa Mortensen — My Rebuttal:
While I am not married to the 30ft height limit, there is the ability to apply for a variance in order to build a building that exceeds the 30ft height limit.
The development industry wasn’t born in 2020 when Todd Gloria became mayor. Development has been part of our growing city for time and memorial. However, the current local development industry has donated to the mayor and wants to cut regulations so that they can build unimpeded and increase their profits. In the process, removing all stakeholder input. That’s what this is really about.
The statement of a type of ‘redlining’ is a false assumption that everyone wants to live ‘West of highway 5’. How narrow-minded but interestingly enough coming from a La Jolla resident. Looking outside of one community, the adjacent communities are all a viable alternative for those who may not be able to purchase a property suitable for their needs in the beach area. I can assure you, after 49 years as a Realtor, there are wonderful communities all over our city regardless of which side of a highway they are located.
The lifting of the height restriction is not about views, it’s about access. That has been the main objection for Midway Rising. We already have many thousands of homes built in the Midway area (Liberty Station, Bevel Apartments, etc.) The access into or out of the Midway area is increasingly getting more back up with traffic. What about evacuations for those living in Point Loma and Ocean Beach which is a Peninsula?
But the real message here is that the city is all too happy to comply with the developers’ demands by bringing up issues to eliminate community or zoning codes to quicken the pace of development. Rather than just looking at these issues development by development why don’t we go to our community plans like we formerly did to honor the work of generations past to build and expand; yet keep well-planned communities.
A well-planned community consists of essential services and a variety of neighborhoods, whether it be in a pocket of single-family, suburban, or in the civic core of a community. With this bringing together of a community of neighbors, it creates a bond amongst residents of these diverse lifestyle sectors rather than dilute these neighborhood pockets with one size fits all living concepts. In addition, each community has its own commercial and retail businesses that are the pride and core spirit of the community. This commercial sector also evolves with the times and consumer demand.
In addition, it’s important to also keep historical designations in these communities like Mills Act certification. That is another avenue to provide affordable housing for buyers who may not have otherwise been able to afford a house in that community. This brings economic diversity.
Let’s stop trying to please and coddle developers and let’s go back to community stakeholder input and municipal oversight before we continue to tear the fabric from our prideful communities.
Thanks. 3 words. Scale it down.
Here’s a Letter to the Editor, published today, Sat., Oct 25 in the U-T:
After reading Harry Bubbins’ commentary, I was struck by his worry about “the teacher in La Jolla who can’t afford to live in the community where they teach.” Well, that’s me. I have been teaching in La Jolla for more than 25 years and don’t mind driving in each day. I would rather see the character and charm of our individual neighborhoods preserved than ruin them in the name of “density.” We don’t need Miami Beach-style high-rise buildings dotting the coastline. Proposition D was designed to prevent just this type of thing and was wisely supported by San Diego voters.
We have a beautiful city that draws tourists from all over the world. Donna Frye said it best: “They don’t come here to see our condos.”
Perhaps we can look to another beautiful city as an example of smart growth, Santa Barbara, which retains its quaint charm by enforcing height restrictions.
— Mark Heinze, San Diego