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O PINION &EDITORIAL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
At the west end of Birmingham we have shopping, restaurants and a traffic light. At the east end of Birmingham we have country with birds, animals and lovely trees. Encinitas is unique in having two such different areas just a few blocks apart. Please don’t mess with Crest. Thanks, Irene Kratzer, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
providing quality care instead of scheming. Then they wouldn’t face seasoned public servants, running to refocus the hospital on its mission statement. Your votes electing your representatives shouldn’t be negated by Directors’ machinations. Come alongside thousands of your fellow residents voting to replace the Tri-City Healthcare District incumbents in the November election. Sincerely, Randy Horton, Board Member, Tri-City Healthcare District
In support of food trucks I wish to express my enthusiasm for the food trucks at the Black Sheep on Friday evenings. It is different and delicious, just what Encinitas needs! So to the disgruntled restaurant owners who stand off to the side in a huddle observing, if you can’t share the wealth for one day a week for three hours, and, if you in any way hinder the progress of this wonderful event, I shall not patronize any of your downtown restaurants! There are many who agree. See you Friday evening, 6 to 9 p.m. for a fun and delicious time! Diane Burton, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Stripped Displaying disdain for district voters, Tri-City Healthcare Directors Coulter, Anderson and Reno chose to strip other elected directors of their power to approve annual hospital audits. These Directors realized that district residents might respond by choosing not to re-elect incumbents. They cynically postponed the effective date until after their presumptive re-election. These Directors considered that placing this year’s audit on the consent agenda might result in a public firestorm. They shrewdly shelved this scheme. These directors should’ve focused on
AUG. 31, 2012
COMMUNITY COMMENTARIES
Letters to the Editor and reader feedback are welcome. Unsigned letters and letters without city of residence will not be published. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and include a contact telephone number. Submission does not guarantee publication. Email letters to letters@coastnewsgroup.com. Views expressed in letters do not reflect the views of The Coast News Group.
Don’t mess with Crest
THE COAST NEWS
Views expressed in Opinion & Editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coast News
Not compatible Another section of the proposed Village Specific Plan, which is contrary to the adopted Community Plan, is the allowance of 140 residential units in the downtown commercial zone. There are only approximately 42 properties in the CZone. The Community Plan Goal 3 (E), on page 57 states “Encourage and facilitate provision of lower cost housing for low and moderate income households.” It goes on, in item 2, to state where that housing should be — “Implement a floor area bonus provision to encourage private owners to provide low-income rental units in the R2, RM-East, RM-West, RM Central Zones.” It says nothing about the R1-10, Industrial, or Commercial Zones! So, why provide bonuses to put it in a zone that is completely incompatible with housing? Provision for low-income housing is a mandate from the State, but our adopted CP tells us where it should be, if we’re going to provide it, and it is not the CZone. In my opinion, housing is really not compatible with the primary uses of commerce in a small neighborhood village. There is a conflict with parking, children, TURN TO LETTERS ON A14
The Community Commentary section is open to everyone. Opinions expressed in the Community Commentary section are in no way representative of The Coast News Group. Send submissions, no longer than 700 words, to editor@coastnewsgroup.com with “Commentary” in the subject line. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Letting Freedom rant By Celia Kiewit
The extremely long article last week, “Time for a New Kind of Funky,” about Leucadia’s issues tried my patience and was sorely in need of corrections and editing. Some of the other recent articles on this subject were informative and well presented. “Strange” indeed. Thanks for all the history, but as Anton Gerschler notes, traffic and trains have existed going way back, and the train has been passing through Leucadia long before he moved in. Solana Beach paid to have their tracks lowered. Encinitas could have hired Kiewit to do the same, but chose not to. The city probably would have supported it. Pedestrian walkovers? Is that in the funding? If the beautification plans are paid for, what’s the hold-up? Oh boy, elections are just around the corner. Funny thing about Leucadia, but not exclusive to it… I’ve been told that many of the funky shops along 101 have been fronts for drug dealing for decades. Probably no truth to it. Are there no California beach cities that serve as models of workable solutions? I strongly disagree that Interstate 5 needs to be expanded. Wasn’t it Maggie Houlihan who stated that her doctor told her the poor air quality, i.e. particulate matter due mostly to the freeway, contributed to her cancer? The more closet space I have, the more stuff I accumulate to fill it. Shouldn’t we make better use of the lanes we have? Surface street traffic problems are best controlled by speed limits and enforcement. It seems like reducing speed limits would allow all to patronize businesses and enjoy the scenery. And discourage those who don’t need to be there. There’s plenty of room for bikes, walkers and cars. Is Anton suggesting that a noise ordinance be enforced? Good. Hilton Head Island prohibits motorcycles by enforcing a noise ordinance, which would be nice in all parts of our city. At certain times of the day and year, the island traffic is awful, and painfully slow, but relatively quiet. Much of the island’s design is
attributed to the forward-thinking land use planning of a young man named Charles E. Fraser in the ‘50s who convinced the locals that nature, housing, churches and recreation should be top priorities. No billboards, few signs, no high profile buildings and some of the best restaurants and golf courses in the world. The island is beautiful! Leucadia has other issues. Anyone who buys property in a flood zone can hardly blame others. How do you get insurance? A massive culvert system could have been built (by Kiewit) many years ago, but is too expensive now. An assessment district, organized around the properties adversely affected, is another solution. The mobile home owners will not like that idea. Every house and business should also have cisterns to catch rainwater, helping to prevent all kinds of crap, like pesticides, poop, oil and trash, flowing to the ocean, and preserving precious water for gardens. Let’s make Leucadia the first plastic-free zone in the state! Regardless, doesn’t drainage need to be addressed before money is spent on roundabouts and beautification? Should other property owners foot the bill for Leucadia’s problems? Similarly, referring to a recent letter to the editor, “Help to Save Crest Drive,” should we be paying for the maintenance, protection, and virtual privatization of a long section of one street in the guise of “unique and historic character,” thanks to the lobbying of a small group of residents who have become accustomed to walking in the street? Speed bumps and limits of 15 miles-per-hour. Unlike 101, why would you use this street unless you lived there? Exactly. There are no schools and no churches, like on neighboring streets. Are you aware of the volleyball court blocking the south end? It was the actions of a few corrupt politicians in 1986 when our city was new that created and preserved this anomaly. Hmm. Are these provincial misguided perspectives worthy of space in my newspaper? Yes, let freedom rant. Celia Kiewit is an Encinitas resident
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