PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 24, NO. 45
NOV. 19, 2010
City nixes plan for homes on school site
THISWEEK
By Wehtahnah Tucker
ENCINITAS — City Council voted to deny the Encinitas Union School District’s application to rezone the former Pacific View Elementary school site on Nov. 10. The unanimous decision came as a surprise to many in the packed City Council chambers, as some expected the council to agree with the Planning Commission’s recommendation to change the 2.8-acre parcel of land from public/semi-public use to residential. Mayor Dan Dalager recused himself because he
RESPECT Several events around the county pay tribute to our country’s men and women in uniform B1 on Veterans Day
NO HOOLIGANS Local skateboarders take to their boards to help raise money to support A5 a good cause
MEET YOUR HOST Meet Cottonwood Creek Park’s longtime host A10
TURN TO SCHOOL SITE ON A20
INSIDE
Meeting on ‘vision’ draws a big crowd
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PLAYING DIRTY Billed as “Where the turf meets the dirt,” the Del Mar Mud Run was held Nov. 13 on the infield of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Hundreds of eager runners participated in the muddy obstacle course, which included mud pits, a tire wall climb, a sand pit crawl, a fire hose spray down, and more. Pictured above, San Diego resident Tara Vandenberg loses her footing as she exits the tunnel, winding up sprawling in the mud. Right, Los Angeles resident Jenna Gilbert (left) and San Diego resident Shannon Gearing wrestle in the Monster Pit just before finishing their first Mud Run.
By Wehtahnah Tucker
unanswered questions to adequately address the issue, Hilliard said. The city is currently leasing the lot from NCTD on a month-to-month basis for what Hilliard described as “a minimal amount.” As far as the city possibly buying the lot, he said he was told “NCTD doesn’t sell property.” At the council meeting one week later, Betsy Winsett, speaking on behalf of Neighbors for a Transit Solution, said opposition to the platform is “strong and it’s growing.” “Once people are made aware of the plan they’re eager to voice their opposition by signing the petition,” she said. Her group has been circulating a petition opposing
ENCINITAS — The vision of the city’s five distinct communities was discussed at length during a citywide meeting Nov. 16. With people outnumbering available chairs to sit on, residents lined the walls to get a glimpse of the presentation that has been in the works for almost a year to update the General Plan. Diane Langager, a principal planner for the city, said she was pleased with the turnout. “We have a wonderful citizenry that love Encinitas and are very involved in this process,” she said. “Overall we feel the process was very successful, we’re always doing everything we can to get more participation.” Beginning in January 2010, a general plan advisory committee, along with city staff and a consulting firm began the first phase of updating the general plan. Over the next six months, the group facilitated five community specific workshops and a citywide workshop on May 1. The general plan should be updated within a two-year period according to Planning Director Patrick Murphy. The city’s blueprint will be updated to address new policy issues such as sustainable and healthy communities, green building codes and storm
TURN TO LAND SWAP ON A22
TURN TO MEETING ON A23
Photos by Daniel Knighton
Councilman says ‘land swap’ rumor is just that By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — A rumor that the city was negotiating a deal with North County Transit District that would provide easier access from a proposed temporary train platform to the Del Mar Fairgrounds is just that, Councilman Carl Hilliard said. More than two dozen residents attended the Nov. 8 council meeting to address an item under Council Priorities — Reports that called for a “Discussion regarding the Recycle Lot leased to Waste Management by NCTD, and the possible reassignment of the Lease.” Neighbors for a Transit Solution is a group of residents opposed to building the temporary train stop about a half-mile south of the fairgrounds and just east of the beach colony community
in the 21st to 24th Street area. Jeff Weitzen, speaking on behalf of the group, said an unconfirmed rumor was circulating that NCTD needed an easily accessible route to get people from the proposed train stop to the fairgrounds. “They can’t get there from NCTD property because in between is the Department of Public Works,” Weitzen said. “We heard there was a possibility NCTD would give the city the old recycling lot in return for right-of-way access to the fairgrounds,” he said. When asked if that rumor were true, Hilliard said, “No, it’s not. There is no deal.” A panhandle-shaped lot at 2265 Jimmy Durante Blvd. is owned by NCTD. Waste
Management leased the property for its recycling center, but that facility closed in August. A small corner of the lot is owned by the city. Hilliard said he put the item on the Nov. 8 agenda because there was “interest from third parties to lease the lot,” although he said he “would rather not” specifically identify who was interested. “It’s the entryway to the city,” he said. “I don’t want to see it used, for example, for parking for tow trucks. “I was trying to find a creative way to secure that lot,” Hilliard said. “I wanted to save that little piece of land for Del Mar. I was trying to get a sense of what the community wants to do with it and how important it is.” The item was pulled from the agenda, presumably because there were too many