MARCH 4, 2016
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T he R ancho S anta F e News
Advisory board OKs roundabout at Jimmy Durante Blvd. By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — Despite opposition from the majority of speakers at its Feb. 22 meeting, the Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee voted 6-1 to recommend that the City Council approve a roundabout at the intersection of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive. The traffic calming device is being proposed to help fulfill a stated objective of the Del Mar Community Plan adopted in 1976 to slow traffic and ensure pedestrian and bicyclist safety, city officials said. “The goal is not about eliminating gridlock on the worst days,” Public Works Director Eric Minicilli said. The only way to do that is to widen the road and bridge and make it a highway, he added. But eight of the 12 residents who addressed the committee said they believe a roundabout would make traffic worse, especially during peak attendance days at the nearby Del Mar
Fairgrounds, home to the San Diego County Fair, annual horse race meet and more than 350 other annual events. Arnold Wiesel, who lives nearby and has consistently opposed the project since it was proposed about two years ago, said the traffic circle “will take what is already a frustrating experience and turn it into absolute gridlock.” “We have a serious, serious traffic issue here,” he said. The roundabout was originally part of a citywide sidewalk improvement project. In response to questions and concerns expressed during a public review period it was pulled from that project and underwent a separate environmental impact report that was released late last year. The draft EIR analyzes the roundabout, a traffic signal and a no-project alternative. According to the findings the roundabout was
The Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee votes to recommend the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive. Courtesy rendering
deemed the “environmentally superior alternative.” Resident Barbara Myers said the cost of the approximately $1 million project seems “exorbitant” and it is “inappropriate for that corner.” “I’ve heard roundabouts work elsewhere but they don’t have a million tourists driving through there confused and looking for a parking space,” Myers
said, adding that she also has concerns about emergency vehicle access. Alan Wittgrove said in his research he learned bicyclist safety decreases in small roundabouts such as the 100-foot diameter one that is proposed. Richard Anglin recommended finding two solutions for the times of the year when the intersection is busy and when it is not.
He also suggested increasing the presence of law enforcement to slow drivers on the roadway, where the speed limit is 40 mph. But not everyone opposes the project. Councilman Al Corti, speaking as a resident because he lives nearby, said in his determination the roundabout is the best solution and “doing nothing is clearly not the right decision.” Wade Walker noted the success of traffic circles in other cities. “It just takes trying it and I think you should,” he said. Bill Michalsky said it took him “a long time to come around to it” but he believes it will be effective in slowing traffic once people learn to maneuver it. “It may be a few days when it’s just ugly,” he said. “I say go for it.” He said the lagoon committee supports a roundabout because compared to a traffic signal there will be fewer or no light and noise
impacts to wildlife there. Minicilli said there have been few vehicle and pedestrian accidents at the intersection but when he and his staff evaluated the area they concluded there is not really a safe way to cross the road there even though many people do so. He said it bothered him that improvements being made to the area, such as the extension of River Path Del Mar, will bring more pedestrians to that location. In response to other questions raised at the meeting, city staff said flagmen could be used to direct traffic in the roundabout during peak seasons. They also said the project was approved with some conditions by the previous fire marshal. Additionally, the EIR included an estimated 40 vehicle trips per hour would be generated by Watermark Del Mar, a multifamily residential complex proposed for the southeast corner of TURN TO ROUNDABOUTS ON 18
Condominium voting rights deemed a ‘process’ RSF school district still guarded about solar project By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — The Rancho Santa Fe Association board of directors decided that following its January meeting, the topic of condominium voting rights needed to circle back for additional discussion. RSFA President Ann Boon said the item was placed on the February agenda because of the feedback it received from condominium owners. “We received several letters, phone calls and emails from condominium owners expressing their disappointment that the board had postponed the decision to allow condominium owners the right to vote,” she said. “The seven of us do want condominium voters to have a vote.” Boon noted how it was a matter of timing in the process. She then gave
ciation is a member of the Association and has two designated property sites, Wasserman said. “Therefore, the way it’s structured, the condominium association itself selects who, from their membership of that individual condominium association, can vote on Association matters. They are nonmembers of the Association and a few people were designated,” Wasserman said. “It’s why we have this mess here.” Wasserman called the issue complex and said it goes as far back as 50 years. “We beg your indulgence. We ask you to let us do this as a dry run when this committee reconvenes and makes the necessary changes in the documents Mike Licosati at that time and submit it Board Member, out to the voting memberRSF Association ship,” he said.
board director Fred Wasserman, who is also the chair of the governing documents committee chair, the floor for an overview. According to Wasserman, the Covenant has a total of 88 condominiums and is comprised of 19 condominium associations. Each condominium asso-
The condo issue is more complex because we don’t really have control over that...”
Wasserman said the challenge is that they need to amend the bylaws. And moving forward, they need to identify all the officers in each condominium association. Additionally, they need their governing documents because the Association has no records of this. Wasserman pointed out that this is a process they need to do correctly and not haphazardly. While the board has agreed that condo owners should vote, he said, it does remain a 50-year-old problem. Wasserman asked both Covenant members and condominium owners for patience as the governing documents committee wants to address this when the committee reconvenes July 1. Once the changes are
TURN TO VOTING ON 18
Watermark opposition group trying to force a public vote By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — As Watermark Del Mar moves through the city’s development process, a group of residents opposed to the 48-unit multifamily complex is moving forward with efforts to force a public vote. Led by Arnold Wiesel, who lives near the project slated for the corner of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive, opponents say the density is too high, the buildings are too close to existing single-family homes and the setbacks and building heights violate building codes. They also claim Watermark is inconsistent with the community character, will negatively impact traffic in the area, contribute to noise and light pollution
and block views of the natural bluffs and hillside. “It’s horrendous,” Wiesel said. “This is all about the money. I don’t hear anybody in the city saying it’s about community character. This is going to be a massive hotel.” “This is an Airbnb haven,” resident Tracy Martinez said, referring to the vacation home-sharing business. Proposed by Watermark DM LP, a partnership between San Dieguito Land Partners, LLC and Kitchell, the development will include 48 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom townhouses in one- and two-story buildings, 112 parking spaces in an underground structure, a pool and spa area and a small recreation room. Plans also call for sev-
en affordable units, four of which will be deeded at no cost to a nonprofit benefit corporation selected by the city — most likely Del Mar Community Connections. The affordable units will help the city meet the state-approved requirements of its housing element. “Something that is going to be that impactful should be subject to a public vote,” Wiesel said. Tony Cassolato, of San Dieguito Land Partners LLC, said about 90 percent of the comments received during a two-day Community Participation Program in January were positive. Cassolato stressed that the project is in the early stages of development. “Nothing is set in stone,” he said in January. “Right now we’re just here
to listen and accommodate some of the concerns.” The 2.3-acre lot is currently zoned for commercial so a zoning change will be required to accommodate residential units. City Council voted in July 2014 to allow the developer to use a specific plan, which creates a special set of development standards for a particular area, encompasses all legislative actions and regulatory development parameters and allows the public benefit of a project to be addressed. Wiesel said his group is working with attorneys to create an initiative for the November ballot that would require voter approval for major changes to planning policy docuTURN TO WATERMARK ON 18
By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — An agenda item at the last Rancho Santa Fe School District meeting was a comprehensive presentation about a potential solar project. The topic has been discussed at length at previous meetings, however, on this round Alex Smith, representing PFMG Solar, was on hand. While board members listened to the presentation, they were candid about their concerns about the blacktop solar panel structures discussed. An important item that Smith wanted the board to know was the cost savings for the District. Following solar installation, within five years it was estimated that the District could incur a cost savings of $327,000. Looking ahead 25 years, and that number swelled to more than $3 million. “And that’s all coming with no tax dollars being spent,” said Smith, vice president of business development at PFMG. To date, PFMG has a total of 20 school districts under contract. According to Smith, there was no capital cost on behalf of the District for this project. While running down the list of savings, Smith also pointed out an educational feature that goes along with a good solar system. “You can monitor the system in real time,” he said. In turn, the solar systems can be utilized as lab projects for students in classes such as algebra, math, economics, and writing. Smith said there was proven success of these pro-
grams. “Teachers have found it to be a pretty exciting feature of the system,” he said. Smith also mentioned the shade element that solar generating panels can bring. “The school district can provide that leadership to the community about renewable energy and what it means,” Smith said. The board deliberated on whether or not they would want to place blacktop solar structures at the playground and lunch areas, among other spots on the campus. Rancho Santa Fe School Board Vice President Todd Frank said how he really wanted to see more of a ground level view as opposed to aerial views. “I’m just afraid these things are going to look massive,” he said, adding how he was not committed to making a vote at that time. School Board Clerk Marti Ritto said she would like to see a reconfiguration of the blacktop solar panels. The school board also wondered if there was a way to implement the solar panels without altering the appearance of the campus. Frank chimed in using the word, “discreet.” Superintendent Lindy Delaney then brought up the prospect of utilizing the Dacus property, which is currently used as the parking lot for teachers and staff. If that was more appealing, then an environmental impact report would need to be done. Delaney told the board that she would provide more updates on the potential solar project at a future meeting.