I would like all members of the community to be aware of an important upcoming public meeting.
The City of San Diego has released its long-awaited environmental impact report (EIR) on a number of possible transportation projects in our community. At its July 11 meeting, the University Community Planning Group (UCPG) will be considering the EIR and making its recommendation to the city.
In order to accommodate the large expected audience, the meeting will be held in the theater at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (JCC), 4126 Executive Drive, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There will be time for public comment, and we will accommodate as many speakers as time allows. Those wishing to comment must submit a speaker slip upon arrival.
The EIR is called the University City North/South Transportation Corridor Study. Its purpose was to evaluate a series of transportation alternatives to relieve traffic congestion in the area and between the northern and southern portions of University City. S
even alternatives were included:
1. Regents Road Bridge
2. Genesee Widening (between Nobel Drive and SR 52)
3. Grade Separation (an underpass) at the Governor/Genesee intersection
4. Genesee Widening and Regents Road Bridge
5. Grade Separation and Regents Road Bridge
6. Limited Roadway Changes “” improvements at the intersections of Governor/Genesee, Genesee/52 and Regents/52.
7. No Project “” doing none of the above projects.
The study gave full and equal treatment to all seven alternatives. For all the alternatives except No Project, it found significant impacts in the following areas of analysis: Land Use and Planning, Traffic and Circulation, Biological Resources, Air Quality, Noise, Neighborhood Character/Aesthetics, Landform Alteration, Geology/Soils, Recreation, Hydrology/Water Quality, Human Health and Public Safety, Cultural Resources and Paleontological Resources.Some of these impacts were found to be mitigable. For some alternatives, the impacts were found to be not mitigable. These include impacts to Neighborhood Character/Aesthetics, Landform Alteration, and Recreation.
I encourage people to review the EIR prior to attending the meeting. You may find the Conclusions (the first 10 pages) a helpful overview. A copy of the EIR is available for viewing at the UC Community Library. Copies are available from Martha Blake at the city’s Development Services Department, (619) 446-5375 (CDs $5, paper copies $200).
The next step is for the City Council to vote whether to certify the EIR and which alternative to pursue. The EIR makes no recommendation to the City Council as to which, if any, alternative should be undertaken. It is very important for the UC community neighborhoods to participate in this process. If you have any questions, please call me.
Linda N. Colley
UCPG, Chair (858) 453-0435