No three stories signs staked the ground outside La Jolla Recreation Center on Thursday, April 6, as more than 140 people packed into the meeting hall to discuss proposed changes to La Jolla’s Planned District Ordinance (PDO), the policy document that governs development in the area.
The excited crowd grew frustrated, angry and confused when the La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) announced that it would not hear the PDO that evening.
At the previous, well-attended PDO meeting at the Museum of Contemporary Art on March 23, LJCPA President Yvette Marcum announced that the PDO would return to the April 6 LJCPA meeting as an agenda item, meaning that it would be discussed by the trustees. The newly formed No Third Story organization posted the meeting date on its Web site, www.nothirdstory.org.
“The PDO (subcommittee) didn’t have anything that was clear and there was no clear direction from Bird Rock,” Marcum said. “I haven’t received anything final enough to be voted on.”
LJCPA originally voted during a special meeting on Feb. 23 to send the PDO back to the Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) and La Jolla PDO subcommittee for further consideration.
At the April 3 PDO subcommittee meeting, the trustees decided to keep the PDO at the committee level “as long as it remains productive.” The motion also stated that District 1 City Councilman Scott Peters will hire consultants to evaluate the proposed changes.
La Jolla has 34 amendments pending before the city to update its PDO. Bird Rock was given until the beginning of 2006 to submit its own PDO changes, seven of which were approved by LJCPA in February. Two last-minute proposals to allow three stories in La Jolla (Bird Rock and parts of La Jolla are limited to two stories), and to increase the floor-area ratio permitted for buildings have stalled the process.
At the meeting, dispute arose over Promote La Jolla’s presentation to implement a Public Right of Way (PROW) district in La Jolla that will allow businesses to display merchandise outside, set up A-frame advertisement signs and outdoor furniture.
Freestanding signs are currently banned by the city, and outdoor displays and sidewalk cafes require special permits, which entails a laborious permitting process for businesses.
Neighborhood Code Compliance is not able to regulate the 4,000 businesses in violation, however, and PROW would give the city greater control over outdoor amenities and help bring them into a uniform style, said Tiffany Sherer, executive director of Promote La Jolla, the nonprofit business improvement district for La Jolla.
A majority of community members at the meeting protested PROW, claiming that it would give amnesty to code violators.
“I don’t see this improving La Jolla at all,” said one community member. “I don’t want any more advertising in La Jolla.”
Participating businesses would be required to leave a minimum 5-foot-wide path, less than the 8 feet required for new construction under La Jolla’s PDO, but more than the city’s 4-foot minimum.
“Eight-foot, uncluttered sidewalks are more appealing,” protested one audience member.
Under PROW, La Jolla would allow businesses to display flowers and plants, food products, handcrafted goods, artwork and pottery. Permanent structures are not allowed, and displays and furniture must be returned inside after the businesses close and during hazardous weather.
Only ground-floor businesses are eligible to join the program. Participants must carry at least $1 million in insurance, complete a training course and display a sticker in their window. Promote La Jolla will oversee participants and deal with violators on a more grassroots level; perpetual violators will lose their permits, said Deborah Marengo, president of Promote La Jolla.
One lone voice praised the proposal.
“It gives local control,” said one community member. “If we don’t do PROW, we’re back to where we began. It’s an attempt to bring signage to the pedestrian level and that’s good for a walkable community.”
PROW would extend from Marine Street to Prospect Plaza and Torrey Pines Road. LJCPA trustees voted to send PROW to the La Jolla PDO subcommittee for further consideration.
In other news, leadership will shift as the trustees internally elected new officers. Tim Golba will serve as LJCPA’s new president; Marcum will step down to vice-president. Mark Lyon will become the new secretary and Lynn Haynes will act as treasurer.
LJCPA meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. For more information call (858) 456-7900 or visit www.lajollabythesea.com.