RESIDENTS VOICE NUMEROUS CONCERNS ON LA MESA HIGH-RISE PROPOSAL

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By Kristin Kjaero

December 10, 2009 (La Mesa) – It was a standing room only crowd December 9, as residents gave their input at the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Public Scoping Meeting for Park Stations at the Crossroads of La Mesa, a six-acre, 18-story multiple use project proposed for the Village.

The City will continue to take public input through December 16.  Comments should be e-mailed to bchopyk@ci.la-mesa.ca.us or mailed to La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Ave, La Mesa CA 91942.

The proposal seeks to amend  the Village Specific Plan, asks the City to vacate a portion of Nebo Dr. and a parcel with a pump house, and proposes to build up to 500 multi-family residential units, 500 hotel rooms, 250,000 square feet of office space, 125,000 square feet of retail space and a linear park.

Safety, traffic and parking lead a long list of concerns, which also included utilities, hazardous materials, aesthetics and economic impacts. No one had a positive word to say about the proposed 190 feet height, while the current limit is 46 feet.

“The scale of the project was determined by the Applicant to be limited by traffic,” said Bill Chopyk, Director of Planning and Development Services in his introductory statements.

Del Williams questioned whether a six-month-old traffic study was still relevant, given all the recent street changes as part of the new Police Station and resulting congestion.

La Mesa residents and knowledgeable professionals Architect Martin “Dusty” Ucker, Jim Newland, professional Planner, and Architect Jerry Lecko all raised concerns about mass, scale, compatibility and context to the Village.

Lecko discussed the large amount of dirt that would be excavated for underground parking, and asked, “There used to be car dealers here. What are the hazardous materials lurking below the pavement?”

Ucker questioned the potential impact from combined apartments and trolley proximity as an extension of SDSU, and raised questions about the impact on the current economic blight. “This could make it worse,” he stated.

Newland cited the potential to develop something compatible with the character of the Village, however, “the American Legion is a landmark that should be incorporated and enhanced, not removed.”

Similarly, resident Charles Bras was concerned with the cultural impact, “La Mesa has pride in itself in developing the Village. This will create an entrance that is not compatible.”

“Does our Fire Department have the ability to deal with evacuating a building so high?” Miriam Plotkin asked, raising questions about what impact limited access and height might have on public safety.

Pat Keller didn’t mince words about the possible impact of another unfinished project in the current economy, and the danger she felt the proposed park would create. “I am a survivor of a previous fiasco. We had many months of danger, rocks coming through our ceiling and then the project went belly up,” she said. “Then there is this ridiculous park. That playground is surrounded by train tracks, a freeway, an 18-story building and a busy street. This is not a plus….”

The meeting was the first step in a long process that will provide opportunity for public input at several landmarks.

Once technical studies are done the results will be incorporated in the Draft EIR, anticipated to be released some time in Spring 2010 for a 45-day public comment period.

Thereafter the Planning Commission will hold public hearings somewhere around the end of 2010, to determine their recommendations on the Specific Plan Amendment requested, and a Tentative Map. These hearings may possibly be scheduled at the same meeting.

About a month after that it will go to public hearings at the City Council, which will approve or deny the Planning Commissions recommendations on the Specific Plan Amendment and the Tentative Map. The Council may also add conditions that must be implemented before sign off on a final map.

If approval is given, the Applicant may then submit a Building Plan that would go before the Design Review Board for their recommendations.

Finally it would go back to the City Council for ratification of the Design Review Board’s recommendations, before building permits can be issued.

Chopyk estimated all in all it would be about 4-5 years to breaking ground.

The relevant documents are available on-line at http://www.cityoflamesa.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=306.

For more details on the proposed project, see our article last week at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2359.

 

Update 12/17/09: The City has added an e-mail sign-up to receive notifications from this project, which can be accessed from the "Notify Me" link in the left column of the City's home page.
 


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