Arguing that cumulative impacts of several ongoing developments haven’t been properly evaluated, some Point Lomans have called for a Peninsula-wide traffic study to be done at a special meeting.
“How do we get off the island?” asked board member Mandy Havlik, at Peninsula Community Planning Board’s Traffic and Transportation Subcommittee meeting on Aug. 15. “I really would like to push back on the City for a traffic study for the entire Peninsula. We need to be spreading the word and rallying the troops.”
What’s clear is that a majority of Peninsulans, at least those attending public planning meetings, prefer open or park space to the San Diego Housing Commission’s plan to develop a 78-unit affordable housing project on a five-acre lot at Famosa and Nimitz boulevards in Point Loma.
What’s not certain is what position PCPB will ultimately take on the controversial development project. Or even what process would be involved to change zoning on that site to keep it “natural,” should the community choose that option.
At the subcommittee’s special meeting, not one of the more than 30 residents attending supported affordable housing development at the five-acre site, which had previously been used as a bicycle pump track.
Following that meeting, and another subcommittee meeting on the project’s environmental concerns held at Park Point Loma, PCPB will hold another special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Point Loma/Hervey Library. That meeting will determine the planning group’s stance on the unpopular affordable housing project.
PCPB Traffic and Transportation Subcommittee chair Brad Herrin led group discussion of what to do with the Famosa site, otherwise known as Site 428.
Audience members against the Famosa housing project noted that its site is a remnant of wetlands habitat, 97% of which has already been eliminated region wide. But their biggest argument opposing the project was that it doesn’t factor in several other proposed Peninsula housing developments, some already under construction, as well as the San Diego Unified Port District’s plan to build more hotel units on Shelter Island.
“ZIP Code 92107 has the highest population density in San Diego,” argued one resident. “We already provide affordable housing, as 57% of people makes less than $50,000 per-year median income. The housing commission hasn’t asked the community what it thinks about traffic mitigation.”
“The housing proposed is workforce housing for people like teachers and firefighters,” said subcommittee chair Herrin.
“What ‘is’ affordable housing?,” asked one audience member.
Subcommittee member Eva Schmidt pointed out the long-term potential of increasing the building height limit on Shelter Island could also heighten impacts to area traffic congestion.
Subcommittee colleague Margaret Virissimo added proposed expansion of the Peninsula YMCA has also not been considered in assessing future traffic impacts on the already transportation-congested peninsula.
Yet another local resident noted future airport expansion also has not been factored into the traffic-impact equation.
Added subcommittee member and bicycling advocate Nicole Burgess, “I actually am in favor of affordable housing, but I am not OK with giving up environmental space for it. We need to protect that space and land as a watershed.”
From the audience, Famosa housing opponent Cameron Havlik offered a possible solution.
“We need to amend the City plan to develop open space there and get that parcel rezoned, then have it shifted over to City Park and Recreation or a trust to manage the land,” he said. “The City can designate it as open space.”