Volume XVI, Issue 16
www.solanabeachsun.com
April 19, 2012 Published Weekly
Ag. board cuts off cooperation with Del Mar 22nd District president says city strayed from deal points in possible litigation settlement BY CLAIRE HARLIN EDITOR@DELMARTIMES.NET
■ New Sharp Mary Birch CEO thrives on interaction with staff, patients. Page 8
The 22nd District Agricultural Association is suspending cooperation with the City of Del Mar in settling an environmental lawsuit against the fairgrounds operating board, announced the entity on April 13.
“We can’t in good conscience move forward with any other cooperative efforts,” said ag. board President Adam Day. “They presented to us a set of deal points in February, which our board quickly and unanimously approved. We have since been waiting for a
draft agreement that we finally got on [April 6] and, unfortunately, that draft doesn’t reflect the deal points as originally proposed, and they are so far out of whack that we had no choice but to reject that draft.” The fair board has been
Fundraiser at David Alan Collection
ment terms such as implementing a joint public transportation shuttle to mitigate traffic impacts during the fair. The Ag. Board met on April 10 to discuss the draft, and on April 13 the board is-
in negotiations with Del Mar, Solana Beach and the San Diego River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to settle the lawsuit, which was filed last June over the Fairgrounds Master Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The stakeholders agreed in February to settle-
SEE AG. BOARD, PAGE 6
DM pushes plan for fairgrounds’ future BY CLAIRE HARLIN EDITOR@DELMARTIMES.NET
■ Preparedness is key for Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Page 14
Drew Hubbell, Teri and Chuck Lang and Marianne Gerdes, executive director of the Ilan-Lael Foundation, attend the foundation’s April 14 fundraiser at the David Alan Collection in Solana Beach. See page B18. PHOTO: JON CLARK
Solana Beach addresses safety issues at San Onofre nuclear plant Council votes to send letter to federal officials BY CLAIRE HARLIN
■ Del Mar Heights student artwork showcased. Page B15
EDITOR@DELMARTIMES.NET
Solana Beach has joined San Clemente and Laguna Beach in taking a stand on safety issues associated with the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The City Council on April 11 voted 4-0, with Mayor Joe Kellejian abstaining, to write a letter to feder-
al officials outlining demands in hopes of keeping the seaside nuclear plant and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in check. This move comes amid growing national concern over unusual wear to the plant’s tubing. The facility has been shut down for more than two months, and Southern California Edison, the plant operator, announced April 12 in a statement that even more tubing damage in
SEE NUCLEAR, PAGE 6
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Del Mar is amid a complex process of creating a development vision for the fairgrounds, but city officials are having a hard time rallying the input of all local stakeholders, namely the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which operates the fairgrounds. In February, the city sent letters to the City of Solana Beach, the Ag. Board, the City of San Diego, San Diego County, San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority and SANDAG inviting them to participate in the creation of a Local
Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA), which would outline future goals and development parameters for the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Del Mar planning manager Adam Birnbaum said a follow-up letter was sent a few weeks ago. “We invited the regional participants to join with us so that we would get input and perspective from all aspects before making a final decision,” said Mayor Carl Hilliard. “I, for one, wouldn’t be open to a discussion that would change our process. We’ve laid it out, we’ve invited people to participate and they can or
SEE FAIRGROUNDS, PAGE 6
Grading started for Torrey Hills project BY KAREN BILLING Grading has begun and the construction fence is now up on Garden Communities’ development of 384 new housing units on Calle Mar de Mariposa and East Ocean Air Drive in Torrey Hills. The fence, which will be up for the duration of the project, was painted tan instead of blue, according to the Torrey Hills Community Planning Board’s specifications and will be touched up when it gets dirty during the process, another request the developers have agreed
to. Project engineer John Leppert stopped by the planning board’s April 17 meeting to give an update on the development. Many of the board’s concerns regarded traffic and pedestrian safety as the site is so close to Torrey Hills School. Leppert said safety is of the upmost importance and they are in contact with the Torrey Hills principal and so far everything seems to be going “satisfactory.” “We’ve tried to be up front and
SEE PROJECT, PAGE 6
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