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Thursday, September 17, 2015
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 27, Number 13
Going green to grow bigger? Condo plan in OB sparks debate BY TONY DE GARATE THE BEACON
A city program designed to reward developers who build environmentally friendly structures is suddenly shaping up as the next battleground in the eternal debate over what constitutes bulky, out-of-scale housing in Ocean Beach. On the books since 2003, the Sustainable Building Expedite Program is neither new nor little-known. Among other things, it offers speedy permit approval and
significant wiggle room in complying with the letter of the land development code if the building meets certain green requirements, such as attaining the LEED silver standard of the U.S. Green Building Council. But a proposal to build a two-story, four-unit condo that seeks permission to build significantly larger than permitted by code has caused members of the Ocean Beach Planning Board to stand up and take notice. Chairman SEE GREEN, Page 4
Town Council hears about Veterans Plaza and vacation rentals A Southwest Airlines plane flies over the city and begins its descent into San Diego International Airport.
PHOTO BY THOMAS MELVILLE
BY TONY DE GARATE
Point Lomans unhappy about FAA’s proposed flight paths BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON The SoCal Metroplex Study intended to improve efficiency at San Diego International and other regional airports has surfaced on Point Lomans’ radar screens, causing them to question the impact of proposed flight changes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said the 500plus daily departures and arrivals at Lindbergh Field, 97 percent of which leave to the west and arrive from the east, “won’t cause much of a noise impact,” adding noise levels won’t exceed an average daily increase in excess of 5 (more) decibels. Noise is measured in decibels
Though confined to the waterfront, San Diego’s airport is running smoothly port’s budget has nearly tripled. Even with fewer planes coming and going, passengers going Nearly 15 years after local through the airport have risen politicians carved Lindbergh 45 percent, from 12.9 million Field out of the Port of San in 1995 to nearly 18.76 million Diego and created the Airport last year, airport data show. Authority, take-offs and landIn short, planes are getting ings are down almost 22 perSEE AIRPORT, Page 17 cent from their peak, but the airBY ASHLY MCGLONE
‘We have been dealing with airplane traffic for decades, but it is about to get worse.’
VOICE OF SAN DIEGO
SANDY VALONE
POINT LOMA RESIDENT
won’t affect their lifestyle and are beginning to make noise about the proposed changes on email pathways. “This is a very urgent situation, on a scale from 0 to 140. Decibels are 10 decibels, a whisper is 20 with not much time to react, and of 45-60 are moderate, 60-80 are and listening to music on head- it affects all Point Loma resiloud, 80-100 are very loud and phones at maximum is 100. dents,” emailed Sandy Valone. 100-plus is considered deafening. But some Peninsulans aren’t SEE FAA, Page 17 By comparison, rustling leaves convinced that proposed changes
THE BEACON
From the beginning, the current Veterans Plaza at the foot of Newport Avenue seemingly had everything going against it. Day after day, year after year, salt air, sand and foot traffic wore away the sidewalk medallions designed to render honor and respect to the men and women who have defended the country. Today, less than two decades after the plaza’s installation, most of the 84 inscriptions nestled between the plaza’s two flagpoles are severely damaged, if not unreadable. But the elements weren’t the only problem. Attempts at repairs were largely thwarted – due to lack of funds. Members of the Ocean
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Beach Community Development Corporation (OBCDC), the entity spearheading the development of a new plaza on the grassy area south of the community’s lifeguard tower, say they’ve learned from past mistakes. An annuity will be established, with its funds strictly earmarked for maintenance, through voluntary $250 donations from people who want to honor a vet at the new plaza, organizers said Aug. 26 at the monthly public meeting of the Ocean Beach Town Council. Dave Martin of the OBCDC said he was cool to the idea at first. “I was the one who put my foot down and said I’m not going to charge anyone to put their name on that wall,” Martin said. SEE OBTC, Page 5
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