PACIFIC COAST OFFICE BUILDING: A STUDY IN NON-DISCLOSURES
CITY OF SAN DIEGO, MTDB (NOW UNDER SANDAG) 12 YEAR VIOLATION OF FEMA FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS
WHY BOYCOTT CUSH AUTO GROUP?
CITY OF VILLAGES OR CITY OF PILLAGES?
MISSION VALLEY YMCA
WILL SUPERBOWL BE A BUST? READER ARTICLE INCLUDES THIS BRIDGE
QUARRY FALLS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH
HANALEI HOTEL EXPANSION INTO FLOODPLAIN
STARDUST GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES: READER STORY
MAY 28, 2002: CITY COUNCIL GRANTS APPEAL OF SIERRA CLUB (SAN DIEGO), AUDUBON (SAN DIEGO), AND RIVER VALLEY PRESERVATION PROJECT. In a stunning 8-0 decision, the San Diego City Council granted the appeal and adoped the NO BUILD alternative of the EIR. The NFL Experience for the 2003 Super Bowl was moved adjacent to San Diego Bay and Convention Center area. That move prevented the destruction of over 7 acres of endangered Coastal Sage Scrub adjacent to Camino del Rio North. It also saved taxpayers over $8 million. Council agreed with appellants that permanently impacting endangered least Bells vireos, known to nest in the wetlands where the bridge was planned--was not a good idea. Also, the Wildlife agencies letter opposing the project was persuasive. It stated that the bridge did not merit construction--due to low use and high quality habitat that would have been destroyed. The original agreement in the Mission Valley Plan was for the developer to pay for the cost of the bridge. Somehow, that deal got changed. Council member Madaffer stated that he came to the hearing intending to approve the project, but after learning about the aformentioned financial history, decided to vote against it. Thanks to Council member Frye's attention to detail and leadership, taxpayers and wetlands won a huge victory. Friars Road at Mission City Parkway still functions at level of service B (acceptable). If the developer thinks this bridge is so "vital" as the EIR claimed, let them pay for it. And tunnel it to avoid wetlands impacts IF it ever becomes so "vital" to relieve traffic. The EIR showed that the bridge would have increased traffic in more locations than it would have reduced it....
City Hall watchers did not give this appeal a chance because of its connection with the 2003 Super Bowl. The EIR tried to link the bridge being built to the NFL Experience being close to the stadium--as the best option. Fortunately, a common sense City Council saw through this and the NFL Experience was held in a great, alternative location without a hitch.
Thanks to Council member Atkins for seconding Frye's motion, and to Council members Peters, Maienschein, Zucchet, Madaffer, and Mayor Murphy for granting the appeal.
