City Officials Seem Committed to Destroy San Diego’s Character
Over the last several months, I have had the opportunity to hear and read comments from hundreds of individuals and groups opposed to Measure C. Yet still our elected officials continue to state that it’s good for San Diego and uses propaganda paid by investors and developers communicating that this is being done for families and residents of San Diego.
According to those opposed to Measure C, this is a Goliath versus David in San Diego’s 2022 election. That’s why a rally was held this past month near SeaWorld to communicate the reality of the impacts of Measure C, which allows for raising the 50-year coastal and inland communities’ height limits and adding density far beyond its capacity.
On hand for the rally were Lisa Ross of the Sierra Club; Phil Halpern, retired federal prosecutor; Jim La Mattery, Raise the Balloon; John McNab, Save Our Access; Linda Lukacs, City Council District 2 Candidate; Tommy Hough, City Council District 6 Candidate; Mandy Havlik, Point Loma activist; Frank Gormlie and Geoff Page, Keep the Coast 30; and Margaret Virissimo, Peninsula Communities activist, as well as representatives of Save San Diego’s Character, with over 5,000 members strong.
As a founder of Save San Diego’s Character, which is opposed to Measure C, we share the concerns of those listed above because we have also seriously reviewed the impacts of what will take place if Measure C is approved. Basically, it gives investors and developers carte blanche to do as they please without any responsibility to the public at large and the environmental impacts.
To offer a valuable perspective, here’s a statement by John Ziebarth, a Point Loma resident, architect, and planner, on Measure C:
“I have volunteered thousands of hours over 28 years to assist the City of San Diego in developing zoning and community plans that balances the needs of the community with the goals of development. I have been involved in over 200,000 square foot of redevelopment in the Midway/ Sports Arena area and I believe that the height restriction in the Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning area needs to be raised above 30’ to promote revitalization of the area as envisioned in the community plan. But I can’t support Measure C without a height cap that the public can trust. No loopholes. The City Council and the Mayor have an obligation to be open and transparent with the voting public about the environmental impacts that could be created with Measure C. It is not sufficient to simply say that the Council approved the PEIR (Program Environmental Impact Report) and SEIR (Supplemental Environmental Impact Report) without identifying for a lay person the significant unavoidable environmental impacts that the council has accepted. What are the additional unanalyzed environmental impacts that are associated with the proposed increased height and density if Measure C passes?
“At the council hearing on the SEIR in July where Councilmember Campbell said that we misunderstood and that the height for the Sports Arena Redevelopment would be 65′ per the underlying zoning if Measure C passes.
“Based on my experience and knowledge of the zoning code and the City Council selection of Midway Rising’s 84-100′ proposed development, it was not a case of us misunderstanding, but of her misrepresenting.
“In a response to my comments to the SEIR, the city acknowledged that the SEIR only analyzed the base zoning height of 65′ and not the height of Midway Rising or the Complete Communities Housing Solution loophole. Unfortunately, the loophole created by the Complete Communities Housing Solution is citywide and Sports Arena is simply a starting point.”
What Ziebarth has offered is extremely relevant. We are facing a total change in the overall makeup of San Diego if Measure C is approved. It will set precedence to be used to forever alter San Diego’s skyline and density…and at what cost and benefit.
It’s another Ash Street debacle.
Please Vote No on Measure C.
Category: Events, feature, Government, Historical, Housing, Local News
