May 21, 2001, Linda Vista Community Planning Committee (LVCPC) call to order by chair Doug Beckham at 7:01 p.m. followed by presentation of colors and pledge of allegiance performed by Linda Vista's Kearny High School Junior R.O.T.C. Color Guard Unit led by Sgt. Jerry Ingram.
Roll Call of LVCPC members:
Present: Don Ballantyne, Wayne Bamford, Doug Beckham, Pat Buckmaster,
Rick Bussell (new member), Jo-Ann Carini, Gail Cole, Ed Cramer, Grover Diemert,
Julie Dueñez, Greg Edwards, Roy Hughes (new member), Alfrieda Jackson, Ester
McNulty (new member), Michael O’Brien (outgoing member), Rob Spahitz (outgoing
member), Gary Stang (new member), Ron Tomcek
Absent: Bob Hursh (excused), Don Armitage (outgoing member), Jim Horsley,
Mel McKay (outgoing member), Liliani Stiffler.
In attendance were 50 people.
New members are take their seats; outgoing members O'Brien and Spahitz remain in their board roles as Vice-Chair and Secretary during the meeting, as per the bylaws.
Nominations for Chair:
Motion (Bussell/Tomcek): Close nominations.
Motion passes. Speeches are presented. Ed Cramer is elected as new LVCPC Chair for 2001-2002.
Nominations for Vice-Chair (several nominated by decline):
Motion (Buckmaster/Tomcek): Close nominations.
Motion passes. Doug Beckham is elected as new Vice-Chair for 2001-2002.
Nominations for Treasurer (other nominations decline):
Pat Buckmaster is elected as new Treasurer without objection.
Nominations for Secretary:
Government Representative Announcements
Marilyn Mirrasoul, representing City District 6's unoccupied seat: Ribbon cutting for the new Central Animal Shelter (located on Gaines Street near Friars Road and Napa Street) will take place on August 3 at 11:00 a.m.; Silver Terrace Park (on Friars Road across from the YMCA) is now fully funded (there will be a June 12 Rec Council Meeting for this); the Mollie/Lauretta Street curb was painted and a stop sign was installed; June 19 will be a Morena Street median clean-up; the Mission Valley Preserve (across from Silver Terrace Park at the San Diego River) has been expanded by 20 acres to add to the existing 51 acres; the San Diego River Task Force will meet in July to discuss enhancement including building bike paths, etc. as far as El Capitan; District 6 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are now stored in a lock-box; the Rock-and-Roll Marathon, which transects part of Linda Vista, will be on June 3.
A certificate of recognition for Ms. Mirrasoul was presented by Chair Beckham.
Clint Carney, representing City District 5's Brian Maienschein: $300,000 of CDBG funds were allocated to Linda Vista (a list was presented); Wednesday, June 6 there will be a cleanup at Mollie/Gaines Streets area.
Theresa Millette, City Planner's Office: The City of Villages meeting was represented by three tables of Linda Vista citizens; the Community Orientation Workshop (COW) will be held for new boardmembers June 9 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This meeting is used to indemnify members.
Chair Beckham indicated that the graffiti hotline numbers had changed recently: 800-531-2000, 619-235-6884, and 858-484-????. He also suggested that people take pictures of the vandalism, then call in the report so that clean-up could begin immediate, but evidence could be retained.
Mike Rodrigues, Park and Rec Department: On June 28, the Linda Vista Rec Center will dedicate the Tot-Lot at 2:00 p.m; an off-leash dog park has been proposed (at field 8) at the Kearny Mesa Rec Center; The Linda Vista Multi-cultural Fair and Parade went well with the next one on April 27, 2002; at Lamont near Fulton, there is a recycle collection center (for cans, bottles, newspapers) where funds are used to assist with Park and Rec funding.
On May 31 at Bayside Settlement House, a debate will take place between the two District 6 candidates (election will be June 5.)
The flags will be placed out for the Parade of Flags along Linda Vista Road on Memorial Day, May 28.
$40.60 was collected at the meeting; $24.10 was used to pay for refreshments for the April and May meetings.
Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) elections will take place in June.
Main Presentation
(I) University of San Diego (USD) presents its latest design of the proposed Lower West Parking Structure.
Pam Gray, Community Relations, indicated that USD is seeking a vote from the committee regarding the Lower West Parking Structure. Roger Manion, Director of Facilities Management, presented some of the history of the project including the need for increases spaces due to larger enrollment and new buildings. The structure could have up to 1000 parking spaces (an increase of 650 over the existing structure there), which could replace other removed spaces at the Science and Technology Center.
The latest proposal would enhance the Casa del Puebla view. (This complex about 100 feet to the south of the existing lot.) This proposal would include higher landscaping along the perimeter, reduced lighting, a screened parking structure top with a trellice which could be kept closed until the remainder is nearly full; there would be one entrance but two exits.
Three alternatives were presented:
Lower Olin, south of the Science and Technology Center overlooking Linda Vista Road, would require a 5-story structure to reduce grading issues, but would have a high-profile access off Marian Way, and would require a 25' retaining wall in a deed-restricted (i.e. sensitive biology) hillside. There would also be a 100' grade difference from the lowest level to the main campus. This was deemed NOT FEASIBLE.
South Campus Access, just east of the Science and Technology Center, would be 5 stories high in a deed-restricted area (which the City must reverse), but it would have good access to the campus although the drive through the campus to get there would be round-about.
Lower West, on top of the east end of the existing lot, could have the access moved from the south edge to the middle back (east edge), which would improve traffic but not other concerns (noise, pollution, light) or move the access to the north where it would be more recessed into the hillside with a terraced ramp which would increase the costs prohibitively.
The latest proposal adds four new levels pushed more into the east hillside with some of the existing surface spaces retained. Negatives: Built on a sensitive hillside which would require mitigation; a retaining wall would be needed on the upper entrance driveway and will likely increase the amount of parking on that level (since this would be a main entrance.) Positives: Lights would be better regulated, lower access road could be closed to incoming traffic at evening hours; view impact is lessened.
Motion (Bamford/Buckmaster): The LVCPC approves the project as presented with modified parking structure (denoted as the Revised Lower Parking Structure).
Discussion entails. Main concerns of the surrounding community include noise, light, exhaust, declining property values. Could there be a possibility of a parking structure at the trolley station? (This is not controlled by USD nor the City, but rather by Metropolitan Transportation Development Board--MTDB--and a shopping center structure is already proposed there.)
Barbara Anderson, Casa del Puebla, Chair of the Homeowner's Association had concerns over the two lower entrances and feels they should be kept closed except for emergency vehicles.
A Cushman Avenue representative (on the north west end of the project) expressed concerns over future expansion that will cause further increases in traffic volumes and related conditions, and feels that USD should be required to provide the 1995 USD Master Plan modifications. March 8, 2001 document: Science and Technology Center Ride-Share, public transportation, parking restrictions, etc. must be implemented unless a new garage is built.
Call for Question (Diemert/Bamford): 8 in favor, 7 against (Note that this normally requires a 2/3 vote, but the issue was not brought up.)
Motion to Amend (Bussell/Buckmaster): Request that USD continue to work with the community, the LVCPC, and concerned parties, for mitigation measures, and USD will submit a written list of measures to LVCPC by the next meeting on June 25.
Friendly amendment (Bamford): add between "parties" and "for mitigation": "who will submit their recommendation to the subcommittee chair" Accepted.
Modified Motion to Amend (Bussell/Buckmaster): Request that USD continue to work with the community, the LVCPC, and concerned parties, who will submit their recommendation to the subcommittee chair, for mitigation measures, and USD will submit a written list of measures to LVCPC by the next meeting on June 25.
Motion to amend passes unanimously.
Actual motion vote passes 12 in favor, 2 against.
(II) Manning Street Sewer Replacement Project
Nabil Batta, City of San Diego Civil Engineer: about 300' of exposed sewer line needs to be replaced and have concrete support piers added. This is across from the southern gate at Manning Street.
Community expresses concerns of the impact to Tecolote Canyon (over which this pipe spans.)
Motion (Duenez/Bussel): Get recommendations from the Tecolote Canyon Citizen's Advisory Committee (TCCAC) before taking a vote on this issue.
Motion passes: 11 for, 2 against.
(III) Woodbury University - withdrew
(IV) Lanston Street Canon Access vacation
Motion to withdraw from table (O'Brien/Bamford). This item was tabled in hte April meeting.
Motion passes.
Robert Mathers requests a street vacation on the undedicated portion of the Reserve For Future Street. Maps presented to show existing plot and how the 15' access (half on Mr. Mathers' property) will not be affected. The vacation is requested so either a house extension can be added for rental purposes; however, he would not be opposed to the city curbing the area to allow for extra parking.
Subcommittee O'Brien, Bamford, Beckham, Tomcek talked to the Fire Department, who are concerned about the access. The subcommittee recommends against because of the large plateau to which this access leads. (However, since this plateau is in the preserved Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, any development there is unlikely.)
Motion (Tomcek): Accept the proposed Street Vacation described as City Case Number SA-00-512.
Motion fails: 2 for, 7 against, 3 abstentions.
Secretary vote will be withheld until June. The gavel was passed to new Chair Cramer.
Adjourned at 10:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Spahitz,
LVCPC Secretary 2000-2001