PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 35, N0. 36
SEPT. 3, 2021
SAN Encinitas MARCOS -NEWS council OKs . plan Vulcan
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Streetscape, El Portal continue to make progress. A3 O’side Chamber speaks out against FAST Act. A6 Winston School advocates protest lease termination. A7 Solana Beach schools update mask wearing policy. A7 Daily arrest logs. A9 Sports Talk: Ted Leitner’s book reflects on his career. A10 Solana Beach council talks ‘green building’ code. A14 Supervisors say false COVID info a ‘health crisis.’ A15 Some Ocean Hills seniors want tougher mask rules. A17
City Council THE overridesVISTA inital veto by planners NEWS
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By Bill Slane
will still be counted even if the collector does not sign them or keeps them for longer than three days, as long as they are filled out correctly and returned by Election Day. Awaken Church has outwardly encouraged members to “Vote yes to recall Gavin Newsom” during church events and on social media. The church, though not a designated ballot drop-off location according to the county Registrar of Voters, is encouraging their congregation to bring their ballots to any Awaken Church campus on Sept. 5 and Sept. 12. “Awaken Church is not a designated mail ballot drop off location,” said Cynthia Paes from the San
ENCINITAS — A new 72-unit apartment complex has received approval from the Encinitas City Council following changes made by the developer in response to local residents’ and neighbors’ concerns and despite the city’s Planning CommisRANCHO sion’s vote to deny the projSFNEWS ect earlier this summer. In June, the Planning Commission decided in a 3-1 vote to reject the project as it was presented. During the commission’s review of the project, residents expressed their concerns with public safety and traffic as well as their aesthetic criticisms of the design. The applicant, Austin Wermers of Wermers Companies, appealed the decision and subsequently filed new plans with the City Council. The Planning Commission itself did not review the new plans before the item was presented to the city council. In comments to the City Council, Wermers made several commitments to Encinitas and its residents. “I listened to the community and I was called to action to make changes on my building,” Wermers said. The site of the project is 1967 N. Vulcan Avenue in the northernmost part of Leucadia near La Costa Avenue. The intersection of Vulcan and La Costa is a major concern to residents who oppose the development. Wermers said the updated project plans now include changes to Vulcan Avenue that are meant to make the area safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. “When we do this it also promotes vehicle safety,” Wermers said. Wermers also made a commitment to pay his company’s fair share in whatever changes the city decides to make at the Vulcan and La Costa intersection. “Whatever you guys decide, we want to pay our fair share,” Wermers added. There was more support for the newly redesigned project, some pointing to the need for low-income housing in the area and the project will boast 12 units designated as low-income. “We need more roofs
TURN TO BALLOTS ON A6
TURN TO VULCAN ON A7
Odd Files. A20 Carlsbad council adds 70 affordable housing units. A21
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FOOD & WINE
Cheers! North County: Small, tasty batches at Vista’s 117° West Spirits distillery. B9
BIG WIN
A JUDGE on Aug. 26 rejected the City of Encinitas’ second attempt to override Proposition A, a voter-approved initiative requiring a public vote for any major zoning and density changes, in pursuit of its state-mandated affordable housing requirements. Story on A5.
Carlsbad unveils Buena Vista park By Steve Puterski
CARLSBAD — After the unveiling of the new Buena Vista Reservoir Park on Aug. 27, the city has officially put to bed the Poinsettia 61 Community Benefit Agreement. The legal settlement between the City of Carlsbad, Lennar Homes and several nonprofit groups MAYOR MATT HALL speaks on in 2017 allowed the deAug. 27 at Buena Vista Reser- velopment of more than 100 homes off Poinsettia voir Park. Photo by Steve Puterski
Lane, a bridge connecting the road from Cassia Road to El Camino Real, habitat protection and a park. The park is the final piece and the city officially opened it with a ceremony to highlight 3.1 acres complete with native plants, walking trails and a playground. “It’s been a few years in the making, and we’re TURN TO BUENA VISTA ON A3
A PRACTICE known as ballot harvesting is legal but has caused controversy in recent elections. Courtesy photo
Awaken Church ballot harvesting in recall election By Tigist Layne
MARINES’ REMAINS BROUGHT HOME
The remains of nine Marines and one sailor based at Camp Pendleton were draped in American flags Sunday at Dover Air Force Base as President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden met with some of the fallen troops’ families. Story on B11. Photo by Jason Minto
REGION — Awaken Church is collecting its congregations’ ballots for the upcoming governor recall elections at each of its five San Diego campuses, but none of the church’s locations are designated ballot drop-off spots. According to California law, voters can mail their ballot, return it in person to an election center, put it in an official drop box operated by their county or give it to someone else to return it for them. The law says people who return ballots for others must print on the ballot their name, state their relationship to the voter and sign it. And, they must return the ballot within three days of receiving it. However, the ballots