SOAPBOX
Letters to the Editor (cont.) (Cont. from page 14) most part, Talega is out of sight out of mind where I am concerned. I had a friend passing through town the other day, and we met at Kayalani Coffee (company) and I used a city parking space. Having recently visited Balboa Peninsula and Main Beach Laguna I thought to myself how nice it was to not have to keep driving around the block until a parking space opened up. With the addition of the extra traffic light at Kayalani, this is what we will see. I foresee carloads of SUVdriving moms with their children driving around the block or waiting in the lots for a space to open up. The majority of the spaces will be taken up all day by Metrolink commuters and beachgoers leaving few parking spaces for patrons of the new development. Given these thoughts, I have my truly one deciding reason I am voting no on Measure A, and that is the land was taken by eminent domain. I am vehemently opposed to any land taken by government for public use and then later turned over for private development. I think it is unconstitutional no matter how much time has passed. If for any reason the land was to be sold, it should be put on the market at fair market value after giving remaining family members from whom it was taken first right of refusal at the city’s original purchase price. The seed to revitalize North Beach (I refuse to call it Playa del Norte) is the Miramar (Theater) and the bowling alley. I am probably the only person I know who has actually been in the bowling alley when it was the annex building for Sebastian’s Playhouse. My late brother built the sets for the plays while my other late brother was a waiter at Sebastian’s. I have fond memories of both buildings but the bowling alley must go. Here is my vision for the Miramar. Close your eyes and imagine the tower of the Miramar and its adjoining front entrance and part of the wall facing El Camino Real still standing. It would be the ruins of the Miramar so to speak. Inside the ruins of Miramar, you build your vision for the future of North Beach. Old meets new. Now imagine yourself dining or having a cocktail on a roof top restaurant overlooking an uncluttered view of the Pacific Ocean.
JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH Gretchen Benedetto, San Clemente
Measure A. Positive or negative, this issue has totally transformed our once sleepy little beach town into a vitalized group of very engaged citizens. I am a busy, working mom and 27-year resident of San Clemente. And I have a confession to make. I was one of those sleepy beach town citizens. I was going to vote No on Measure A. After all, I sure didn’t want to sell out San Clemente beachfront property or sacrifice ocean views for strip malls. Besides, I thought the Miramar Theater should be a part of the plan. And finally, since there San Clemente Times March 3–9, 2011
were hundreds of ‘No on A’ signs throughout the city, that must be the way to go… Sad, but true. This was my perception of the truth surrounding this measure. Then a funny thing happened. While picking up a new set of fins at a local surf shop in town, I overheard an intense discussion about Measure A between the owner and his customer. It was obvious that both were strong supporters of the Playa del Norte project, but one had apparently just had another one of his Yes-on-A signs stolen from his front yard along with some eggs being thrown at his house. (Did I really hear this? In San Clemente?) He angrily continued, “How could you vote against this project? Have any of the no-vote people taken the time to see how North Beach would look with the (developer) LAB’s design? This developer is such a homerun for San Clemente. We couldn’t have chosen a more conscientious, green group to work with, yet they’re being portrayed as outside land-grabbers… So lame.” Then the other guy chimes in with, “Yeah, it’s amazing the votes you get with 30,000 worth of signs and soundbytes.” Suddenly, I was engaged. It was time to take the time to find out a bit more about Measure A. I hated to admit that my decision to vote no was largely due to the number of signs I had seen and a few catchy slogans. I scoured the websites, the blogs, the actual financial contracts, the first and second plans, the parking initiatives, Measure W and the City Council minutes for the last year and a half. Then I walked the North Beach triangle and talked with the neighboring businesses and even a few residents in that area and you know what? I wholeheartedly changed my vote to yes on A. And it’s a decision based on truth, not propaganda. I experienced firsthand how easy it was to be manipulated into a no vote. There are a lot of red herrings out there. But the one I heard used the most is everyone’s favorite eyesore: The Miramar Theater. Yep, it’s a mess and needs to be renovated. But it was never a part of this plan because it couldn’t be. It’s privately owned and shouldn’t be dangled as a carrot by the No-on-A supporters that promise exciting concepts once Measure A is defeated. I found that Playa del Norte is...certainly not a strip mall. The open-air design with courtyards, walkways, greenhouse accents, culinary shops, local deli, bakery, patios and firepits transforms an asphalt parking lot and dirt Christmas tree lot into a revitalized, living entryway into our Spanish Village by the Sea. It’s gorgeous. Many of us don’t have the luxury of owning beachfront estates overlooking the ocean. Playa del Norte gives us all the ability to enjoy our jewel on the sea. And we couldn’t have found a more perfect partner than those with the LAB. Just
Cup of Joe: By Joe Anderson
A Better Vision or Continued Neglect W hen I arrived in San Clemente in 1976 to start a new business, North Beach looked pretty much as it does today. The coffee shop was a gas station, the Joe Anderson Casino supported a dinner playhouse and the Miramar Theater showed films on a sporadic basis. Later, both the Casino and Miramar closed. In the 1980s, we lost the Nixon Library on Marblehead due to bureaucratic delays and thanks to a Measure A-type referendum ended up with our ocean-view wastewater treatment plant on nearby Avenue Pico. In a generation, our major accomplishments for the area have been construction of the beach trail and the Metrolink Station. The Miramar Theater has been closed for years; the Casino suffered a similar fate until it was acquired by Linda and Shaheen Sadeghi, the proposed developers of Playa Del Norte. While still a work in progress, results to date at the Casino have been truly impressive with more in store. The opponents of Measure A are correct when they say that Measure A marks a pivotal point for the future. In my view and the view of many others, the status quo is not a desirable outcome for our city. Do we really want to wait another generation to bring desperately needed improvements to the area? Let’s keep sight of what Playa Del Norte will bring our community: • Spanish architecture that complements historic properties in the area. • Approximately 50 percent of the development will be landscaped open space for the public, much with dramatic ocean views. • A state-of-the-art storm water capture system to treat run-off that, at present,
flows untreated across our beach. • Quality independently owned restaurants and other culinary related businesses. • A visually inviting northern gateway to our city. The property, most of which was purchased by the city in 1970 will be leased for 55 years with an option to purchase between the third and seventh year after completion of construction. This will provide time for our economy to recover, the businesses to be fully leased and rents to reach target levels if the option is exercised. The value will be set by a cityselected appraiser. Prior to approving Playa del Norte, the City Council ordered traffic and parking studies for the area to the year 2035. The completed, approved Environmental Impact Report found no significant impacts. In addition to the usual environmental issues, the study included impacts to traffic, parking, historic resources and public views. Traffic and parking improvements are projected to meet the needs of the area to the year 2035 with new parking facilities paid for by the developer-funded beach parking impact fund that can be used for no other purpose. In addition to the benefits cited above, Playa del Norte will bring our city in excess of $1 million per year in added revenue from sales and property taxes and parking revenues. Added to the new revenue will be several hundred new jobs and various infrastructure improvements. Finally, without the private investment in Playa del Norte acting as a catalyst for improvement and restoration of other properties in the area, I’m concerned that the future will be a repeat of the past, i.e. an uninviting community gateway, closed businesses, under-utilized historic buildings and vacant lots. Without a doubt this is a pivotal opportunity. Be sure to vote on March 8.
PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the San Clemente Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@sanclementetimes.com.
look at what they’ve already been able to do with the Casino. Well done, Sadeghis. And lastly, look at the people who are supporting Measure A: The surf community, the people who were responsible for the Beach Trail, the downtown business community. People who are responsible for a lot of positive wins for San Clemente. Mr. (Charles) Mann, did the Beach Trail totally destroy San Clemente? I think not. We all share a love of our beautiful city. Please take the time to find out the truth. Yes on A. Oh yeah, and please don’t steal my sign again.
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