Upzoning and height restrictions can be completely thrown out the window when "Changes in land use designations and zoning are required in order to comply with state and federal law."As anyone who watched the Desert Rose fiasco knows, absolutely anything can be justified as "required by state law"... throwing out environmental restrictions, minimum lot setbacks, parking and traffic requirements, fire safety concerns, etc.
The Planning Commission rejected the loophole 3-2, but staff are trying to push it through council anyway.
If this loophole passes, it's open season for high-density developers on Encinitas.
Yes it would be interesting to see how council will react to this relentless push from staff and the city manager to make our current right-to-vote even weaker. The exception introduced by Jeff Murphy, the new planning director,makes it just about impossible that residents would ever have the right to vote on up-zoning. There will always be a good reason why a project needs to bypass a vote because doing so could create a conflict with state laws.
ReplyDeleteMurphy did it at someone's direction. The question is: who?
ReplyDeleteAnswer- Staff, they want their high salaries and giant pensions. Fire them all!!
DeleteMy opinion, Gus Vina, who also selected Rutan & Tucker, without Council's direction, under his own "discretion," and of course, without public input.
DeleteI think that Gus Vina is aware of his lack of popularity at the moment. Some of us gave him a pass since we thought that he was forced to do things at the command of others on the last Council, but it seems that many important decisions that affect an entire city of 60,000 are made for his personal benefit to keep his position secure--at least until retirement kicks in.
DeleteI am very disappointed that they are even considering hiring a PR person for $130,000. What they actually need is another assistant City Clerk to help get records out. My feeling is that they might be overworked in that department since the lack of trust is higher than any time I ever recall, and people are asking for more documents since many of us have stopped taking them at their word.
Barth has copped out.
ReplyDeleteNATIONAL REALTORS ASSOCIATION IN CHICAGO OPPOSE PROP A?
ReplyDeleteCampaign contribution of $8,250 to the Encinitas Residents, Businesses and Taxpayers Opposing Prop A group from the National Association of Realtors Fund, Chicago, Illinois.
The loophole passed, but it was couched in different language in the body of the resolution.
ReplyDeleteCity Council fools the public again. They now have the 3/5 simple majority by approving the resolution. This language is in both resolutions:
WHEREAS, if it deems to be in the public interest, the City Council may amend all or part of an adopted General Plan;
This is really odd. On the one hand, the Council tonight seemed to be chiding Jeff Murphy for making this recommendation without checking with them first. He is in his probationary period as a manager, so they could just let him go if they really think he has gone far off the reservation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it seems more likely that he was brought in specifically to make this happen.
It is so sad that instead of responding to concerns raised by citizens that they instead try to push them away with worse policies.
Of course he was hired to do what he did. Barth's fake taking him to task was all for show.
ReplyDeleteDump Barth!!
ReplyDeleteTrust this council.They do what you ask and still you whine
ReplyDeleteTrust this council? No way. Will the amendment be placed on the ballot? No. That wasn't part of the resolution. It is the council that is trying to defeat prop A by offering a carrot to the voters. Trust this council? NO!
ReplyDeleteTrust this council? No way! Prop A includes the voter right to vote on increased building heights. The council doesn't want that to happen. Strange that a property owner within the downtown Encinitas specific plan was also on the panel to choose a new planning director. Trust this council? NO!
ReplyDeleteAnd who would you like to see on the panel?? Sheila?? After her nightmare term in office....ah no!! The L word?? Good God Almighty ....no!! Yourself perhaps ?? Hmmmm????
DeleteIf the Encinitas Library, the historic ENCINITAS sign, bike paths on La Costa Ave, televised City Council Meetings for more visible government, the landscaping of Leucadia Blvd, approving financial aid to and working with local business groups, chairing the Tourism Marketing Committee and being nearly the only former Encinitas Mayor to continue to care about her city's more important agenda items by showing up at City Council meetings to address them is a nightmare for you, I'd like to have one of your dreams.
ReplyDeleteThe incest between city hall and the monied interests is disgusting.
ReplyDelete