PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL.31, N0. 21
MAY 26, 2017
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Judge rules against citizens group in .duplex suit By Aaron Burgin
Support of AB 485, which would ban ‘puppy mill’ sales statewide, is gaining traction in North County. The bill aims to protect puppies, often separated from their mothers and shipped here from the Midwest, and the pet owners who buy them. At issue are the questionable conditions in which the puppies are born, the treatment of their mothers and the overflow of puppies available for adoption at rescue shelters. While many cities have adopted their own ordinances, a statewide ban would offer uniform standards and prevent pet shop owners from relocating to cities where puppy mill animals are still allowed to be sold. Stock photo
ENCINITAS — A Superior Court judge has ruled against a residents group that challenged the city’s approval of a second-story addition to a duplex on Rosebay Drive in 2016. The group, which called itself Friends to Preserve Encinitas Beauty, sued Encinitas residents Gina Merchant and Derek Bradley in March 2016, challenging the addition of a 649-square-foot second story to their 863-squarefoot duplex. The group claimed the home remodel would block public and private views, would violate the city’s parking requirements, that it didn’t follow the city’s Design Review Guidelines and that it should have been
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subject to extensive review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The group also claimed THE approval would prompt others to build additions which VISTA would block the view of NEWS neighbors above. Superior Court Judge Earl Maas on May 10 ruled against the group on all counts. Merchant expressed relief in the ruling. “My husband and I are so relieved to have put this to rest as the weight of the lawsuit has been bearing down on us for 12 long RANCHO months,” Merchant said. SFNEWS “We were shocked and disheartened that these people took it this far given that we worked carefully with the
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TURN TO JUDGE ON A22
California mulls statewide ban Oceanside mayor of pet store ‘puppy mill’ sales takes medical leave By Aaron Burgin
A California bill that would prohibit pet stores from selling live dogs, cats and rabbits that aren’t from a rescue group or a shelter is garnering support from animal welfare activists across the state - including locally in North County. But opponents of the bill - including one prominent San Diego County pet store owner - argue that the bill strips consumer of the right to choose where they purchase their animals. Assembly Bill 485, which was introduced in February by State Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach, takes aims at retail pet stores
that sell animals from commercial kennels, sometimes referred to as “puppy mills.” The kennels, which often operate in small towns in the Midwest, Rust Belt and South, transport their animals to pet stores, where unsuspecting consumers pay thousands for animals that, in some cases, fall ill or have significant problems that wind up costing owners thousands of dollars. The bill recently on Wednesday, May 17, passed a significant hurdle, clearing the State Assembly appropriations committee, a month after clearing the State Assembly business
and professions committee. AB 485 mirrors many local ordinance passed in recent years that bar retail pet stores from selling animals from puppy mills, such as in Encinitas, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista and San Marcos. O’Donnell, who said he owns two dogs adopted from shelters, said the bill’s benefits are twofold. “This bill will save lives and taxpayers dollars,” O’Donnell said. “It is a win-win. What we are trying to address is the drive-shopper who goest to the mall and decides on a Sunday
By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — Mayor Jim Wood was noticeably absent from the May 17 City Council meeting. On May 23 his office announced he will be taking a minimum 11week medical leave. No details of his condition were shared except to say he is in the hospital, resting comfortably and awaiting an operation. His immediate family is by his side to support
him. The mayor will miss two June and one August council meetings during his leave. The council does not meet in July. Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery will run council meetings during the mayor’s absence, and take on any other called for duties of mayor. Wood is expected to return to work in mid-August.
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