PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
Inside: 2016 Spring Home & Garden Section MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 30, N0. 12
MARCH 18, 2016
“I think people want their elected officials to carefully weigh the pros and cons and have the flexibility to change course when the situation warrants it,” says Encinitas Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear, who withdraws her support to the Coastal Rail Trail project in Cardiffby-the-Sea. Photo by Tony Cagala
Blakespear withdraws support for Coastal Rail Trail
And many more! From left: San Diego County District 3 Supervisor Dave Roberts, Irene Kratzer and Teresa Barth pose for a photo following a surprise birthday celebration for Kratzer on Tuesday at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library. Kratzer, a longtime community volunteer and columnist for The Coast News was surprised when friends and family serenaded her with “Happy Birthday,” and also receiving a proclamation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, marking March 23 Irene Kratzer day. See story on page A6. Photo by Tony Cagala
By Aaron Burgin
Council OKs small traffic Final vote allows changes to Saxony Road, medical marijuana delivery Quail Gardens Drive cultivation within the city, OCEANSIDE — The and see delivery as a legal By Promise Yee
By Aaron Burgin
ENCINITAS — The sweeping changes that many along Saxony Road and Quail Gardens Drive envisioned taking place will have to wait, the City Council said Wednesday night. The City Council, however, did unanimously support a couple of minor changes proffered up by the coalition of the community’s major stakeholders, known as the Encinitas Environment Education Cluster.
These changes include the narrowing of the roadway width of a section of Saxony, and a left-hand turn pocket on Quail Gardens Drive at the entrance to the San Diego Botanic Garden. As for the more ambitious changes — the E3 Cluster’s plan proposes five roundabouts, raised crosswalks, roadway narrowing median and other traffic-calming measures — the council voted to consider TURN TO CHANGES ON A16
City Council gave final approval to medical marijuana delivery from licensed dispensaries outside the city, making Oceanside the first North County city to provide patients access. Approval of the ordinance amendment on Wednesday received a 3-2 vote. Mayor Jim Wood and Councilman Jack Feller voted no. Council members who supported delivery services said they stand against marijuana dispensaries and commercial
way for Oceanside patients to obtain medication. “Dispensaries are not a part of this,” Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said. “We want to offer some relief to residents and veterans (who need medical marijuana). That’s what I’m supporting here.” Oceanside has closed down 12 dispensaries, and gotten settlements of up to $500,000 from the illegal storefronts. City regulations reTURN TO MARIJUANA ON A26
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would work alongside local and regional officials to scrutinize any proposed rail trail alignment, and a request that council hold a meeting to discuss the city’s entire rail corridor. SANDAG has budgeted $5.1 million for the project, which will be paid for through TransNet, the county half-cent sales tax. The San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, is the lead agency on the project, but Encinitas officials have discretion over the route it takes through the community, and would be responsible for construction and maintenance of the trail section. Blakespear’s change now means that a majority of the council is opposed to the project’s current TURN TO BLAKESPEAR ON A13
JAMES JAM
CARLSBAD
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ENCINITAS — In a stunning about face, Encinitas Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear announced Wednesday that she was withdrawing her support for the current Cardiff alignment of the Coastal Rail Trail that has been the focus of months of controversy. Blakespear at the end of Wednesday’s City Council meeting requested that an item be put on a future council agenda to reconsider the council’s approval of the current configuration of the trail, which would run east of the railroad tracks adjacent to San Elijo Avenue between Chesterfield Avenue and downtown Encinitas. Blakespear’s request also included a request to form a working group of community members that
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