APRIL 1, 2016
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T he C oast News
Watermark receives mixed comments By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — About two dozen people submitted positive and negative comments during a March 24 open house to garner input for Watermark Del Mar. One resident, however, was so impressed by the project that he was ready to put a down payment on one of the 48 units in the multifamily complex proposed for the corner of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive. “Seriously, which one is the nicest?” John Claus asked Tony Cassolato of San Dieguito Land Partners LLC. “I want to buy the nicest one.” Most other residents who attended the event at L’Auberge Del Mar were there “simply to learn more about the project,” Kristen McDade Byrne from MJE Marketing Services said. “We are happy to see that the process is working and people are coming to view the plans and have their questions answered,” she added. “Several neighbors adjacent to the project attended and shared their concerns, which were similar to what has been submitted at earlier meetings, including density, traffic and the amount of open space.” Councilman Al Corti was there to view the proposed complex as a private citizen because he owns a home not far from the
Richard Benson, left, of the Watermark DM team explains the project to attendees during a March 24 open house at L’Auberge Del Mar Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
site and is in the process of building a new house on a hill just south of the 2.3acre vacant lot. “I support the use, and I have no issue with the density,” he said. “But they need to protect the slope and respect the residents up the hill.” There are three buildings with two units each proposed at the bottom of the hill he said should be eliminated from the plans. “They’re too close,” said Corti, who will not be allowed to vote on the project when it is presented to city council for approval because of his proximity to the site. “And there are nine trees that shouldn’t be removed.” The development team,
which also includes Kitchell, said specific recommendations such as those presented by Corti are helping to shape the project, which Cassolato stressed is not in its final iteration. “We’re listening,” he said. “We want to get all the public feedback we can.” The vacant lot, now used for overflow parking for events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, is zoned for commercial so a change will be required to accommodate residential units. To do so City Council authorized the development team to use a specific plan, which creates a special set of development standards for a particular area but does not sidestep the required permit processes.
Watermark Del Mar will feature studios and two- and three-bedroom townhouses in 12 one- and two-story buildings, 108 parking spaces in an underground structure, a pool and spa area and a small recreation room. Plans also call for seven affordable units, which will help the city meet the state-approved requirements of its housing element. Four of the apartments will be deeded at no cost to a nonprofit benefit corporation selected by the city. “As a community we are in favor of affordable housing,” said Arnold Wiesel, who is leading a group called Del Mar Hillside that opposes the zoning change. “We are not obligated under law to make wholesale changes to our community in exchange for several affordable housing apartments. Several units do not solve our affordable housing requirements.” The property is identified in the housing element as a potential site for affordable units. According to the document, “within 12 months of adoption of the 2013-2021 Cycle Housing Element, the City will pursue a zone code amendment and associated actions to assign a new land use designation … allowing TURN TO WATERMARK ON A16
Encinitas Traffic Commission to draft complete streets policy By Aaron Burgin
ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council unanimously empowered the Traffic and Public Safety Commission to draft a policy that will govern so-called “complete streets” projects throughout the city. Complete streets are those that accommodate multiple modes of transportation, not just vehicles, including public transit, pedestrians and bicycles. State law requires that cities adopt complete street plans when they update their traffic plans, known as circulation elements. But the council agreed that the city should look at adopting an interim plan.
“I would propose that we direct the traffic and public safety commission to develop policy for council consideration and propose something to us sooner rather than later,” Deputy Mayor Lisa Shaffer said. While the city does not have a complete streets policy, it has implemented several projects to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists on the roads, including a re-striping of La Costa Avenue between Vulcan Avenue and Interstate 5. These projects, however, have not come without controversy. The council’s vote to re-stripe La Costa was 3-2, with Gaspar and Muir opposed. One activ-
ist from New Encinitas has repeatedly criticized the council majority’s complete streets initiatives, which he said would choke vehicle traffic on the city’s arterial roads. Gaspar and Muir reiterated some of their concerns with the complete streets at the March 23 council meeting, in which they said they wouldn’t support a policy that doesn’t accommodate all transportation modes. “I don’t think they are against freedom of choice, they just don’t want to compromise one mode or another,” Gaspar said of critics of complete streets. ”If you can strike that balance… then it is a win across the
Being an advocate for today's aging population Today’s aging population is vibrant, articulate, and very educated. Finally, the baby boom has aged. However, so many of them still look and feel young. They would never consider themselves “aged or old”. Many of these current older adults had parents that were a part of the “greatest generation”. They had parents who were older adults who served our country, fought for liberty and lived conservatively, especially
considering they lived through the “dreaded depression.” Being an advocate for the “greatest generation” is very different from being an advocate for the current 70 year old in America. I define being an advocate as someone who is a responsible party or durable power of attorney for someone who truly needs a health care advocate. Our market research indicates that boomers want the following:
1. Beautiful, elegant surroundings 2. A place that feels like home; however a fun, active environment is exciting too. 3. A 5 Star rated community with excellent service, communication, and care. With all the above considered, the children of today’s aging parents have their work cut out for them. — Dr. Jacqueline DuPont
Gerontologist and Executive Director of Vista Gardens Memory Care Community
board.” Muir said that proponents need to also understand that most people choose driving a vehicle as their mode of transportation. “The reality is that people are in cars, and we need to understand people drive cars,” Muir said. “People are not going to give up their cars.” No complete streets opponents spoke during the March meeting, which was a joint session with the Traffic and Public Safety Commission and council. Nine people, however, did speak in favor of complete streets and the council drafting an interim policy.
Coast Highway prior to traffic lane and bike path restriping. A section of the highway will pilot reduced lanes and wider bike paths. Photo by Promise Yee
Coast Highway re-striped to two lanes By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — Thursday evening motorists and cyclists were the first to drive on a restriped Coast Highway 101 between Morse Street and Oceanside Boulevard. During the day the highway was narrowed to one traffic lane in each direction, and bike paths were expanded to 8 feet, with added 8 feet safety buffers between vehicles and bikes. The highway pilot program will be studied to provide real time feedback on planned lane reduction and added bike paths to all of Coast Highway in Oceanside. “I hopes this will prove we can do a two lane Coast Highway,” David DiPierro, city traffic engineer, said. “The public can see what a two lane Coast Highway would look like. If it does not work, as we intend it to work, we can revert back and study it more.” Traffic lights will be adjusted over the next few weeks to mimic the traffic flow of planned roundabouts. Road signs will alert drivers of the road narrowing to one lane in each direction. A crosswalk with rapid flashing beacons is planned be added to the stretch of road. DiPierro said the City Council is scheduled to approve $60,000 for crosswalk, ramps, medium island and pop out curbs construction in April.
The city website says construction of the crosswalk may begin in four weeks. The crosswalk will provide safe access to the Loma Alta Creek footpath to the ocean. Traffic flow on the restriped highway will be monitored 24/7 through a BlueTOAD system. Visual vehicle, bike and pedestrian counts will also be taken. Gathered information will be compared to prior traffic flow and travel patterns. Data will be shared with council in September to determine whether to allow road improvements to stay in place for another year. Current vehicle counts are 16,200 cars a day in fall, and 19,100 a day in summer. Fall counts also logged 247 bicyclists and 332 pedestrians a day. Forty pedestrians a day crossed the highway at the location of the planned crosswalk. The city is looking to move forward with complete streets improvements to all of Coast Highway in order to slow traffic and improve bike and pedestrian safety. Changes will mirror pilot program improvements. Nine roundabouts, wider sidewalks and streetscaping are also part of the plan. DiPierro said city staff will present planned Coast Highway complete streets improvements and collect feedback at a workshop April 13.