Parking Setback Approval in La Jolla Shores Concerns Community Planning Association

The (LJCPA) trustees voted Aug. 4 to appeal an earlier decision by a San Diego discretionary land use Hearing Officer which approved the construction of a single-family residence that would have an off street parking space in the home’s front yard.

The LJCPA had previously gone on record as both supporting and opposing the project, located at 1912 Spindrift in La Jolla Shores.  Their final recommendation, which called for a denial of the construction permit, was made in April.

Discussion of the project was contentious.  

Attorney Matthew A. Peterson spoke on behalf of the homeowner.

“Before you voted to recommend approval in a split vote, then you voted to recommend a denial with a split vote,” Peterson said. “This has gone through an environmental review and was approved by the hearing officer, so I’m asking, what are you discussing?”

Trustee Phil Merten said the crux of the matter was whether the LJCPA should vote to appeal the hearing officer’s decision.   

“The space between the building and the street is the front yard and it’s being proposed to put a parking space there,” said LJCPA trustee Phil Merten. “Nowhere else in the city is this allowed, and I’m arguing that this should not be approved outright, without a variance, because an outright approval establishes a dangerous precedent. Take a look at Clairemont.”

Trustee Ray Weiss agreed.

“I don’t see [San Diego] city planning as paying a lot of attention to our community,” Weiss said. “I feel as a citizen of La Jolla that we are being pushed toward this appeal because the people downtown are not paying a lot of attention.”

Trustee Devin Burstein and LJCPA treasurer Jim Fitzgerald, however, felt an appeal would be moot.

“We’ve already had two split votes on this,” Burstein said. “If we appeal we lose credibility.”

“The CPA has already gone on record and because we’re already on record as opposing this project that there is no reason to continue to oppose,” Fitzgerald said.

The motion to appeal, brought forth by Merten, passed eight to four.

Also up for vote on Aug. 4 was motions to allow the creation of mixed use lofts at 7844 Herschel Avenue and whether to approve citywide floor area ratios, which would cap construction footage of homes to 0.6 percent of the total size of a given lot. Both measures were approved.

It was also announced that Cindy Thorsen was the victor in a special trustee election to fill a vacancy on the board. Her term will begin on Sept. 1 and will expire in April 2012.

The next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1.