Close to ten consultants from Garden Communities, a New Jersey-based firm that owns Costa Verde Village housing and commercial center in North University City, lined the back wall of the University Towne Center forum hall Feb. 13 to hear the University Community Planning Group’s (UCPG) verdict.
The board decided to deny a recommendation for the company’s proposal to amend the Costa Verde specific plan, which would convert a 4.8-acre parcel of land on La Jolla Village Drive and Genesee from commercial to residential. The amendment would allow two 32-story and two 35-story condominium buildings with 800 dwelling units ” a project dubbed Monte Verde by the developer.
“What everyone needs to walk away remembering is that for the first time, this community is unified over an issue, and that’s exhilarating,” UCPG chair Linda Colley said to a room full of residents at the end of a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation opposing the project. “If you want 800 units and four high-rise towers, tell us, and if you don’t, let us know that, too, and we will go to work for you.”
The final environmental impact report (EIR) was released Dec. 22 and reviewed by a UCPG subcommittee, which compiled a 49-page rebuttal explaining why it felt the project was inappropriate for the community. Discussions of Monte Verde escalated last fall when the draft EIR was released.
Stuart Posnack, a representative for Garden Communities, addressed audience members at Tuesday’s meeting about the history and objectives of Monte Verde. Posnack has attended more than 20 UCPG meetings over the last three years to get community feedback on the project, he said.
“I know everyone is worried about the floodgate concept and people say, ‘If this is approved, just wait and see what happens down the road,'” Posnack said. “But there is not another place where a project like this could go in this community. Even though we have not seen eye to eye on every issue, I have still enjoyed the community dialogue and would like to give my sincerest thanks for that.”
Posnack and his consultants left the meeting immediately after the vote and declined to comment on the decision when contacted by phone the following day.
Colley said that although she appreciated the company’s effort to communicate with residents, the most important overall goal is for the community to get what it wants and deserves from the project.
The list of community benefits associated with Monte Verde include Garden Communities funding and constructing a south University City fire station, replacing a problematic sewer line and implementing a free shuttle bus for the development’s residents, according to Posnack.
But many community members at the meeting were concerned with project impacts that could not be mitigated by the company, such as shadows cast by the towers on the only available open space, the wind-tunnel effect and the economic impact on other commercial condominium sales in the area.
Although Posnack stated that Monte Verde would not be utilizing 1,700 of the average daily trips (ADTs) that it was allotted ” the number of vehicles estimated that a development would add to the roads ” several residents said the project would cause increased traffic congestion and could pose a threat to pedestrians and bicyclists.
“This is not a small change “” it’s a change on a scale that I don’t think anyone can imagine,” said UC resident Deborah Knight. “I have read the EIR and it is full of smoke and mirrors.”
Drawings contained in the EIR depict 30-foot trees that appear higher than the four towers and show a sunny courtyard development where people can gather, when most of the time the area will be in the shade, Knight said.
“That is not reality. That is a fantasy,” she said. “These buildings are twice the height of their neighboring buildings and it would be like dropping a building from downtown into the middle of our community.”
Colley removed herself from her position as chair and appointed Peter Krysl, UCPG vice chair, to continue conducting the group discussion and vote.
Four UCPG members voted in favor of the project, including Alice Tana, who compared the situation to the Miramar airport proposition in that the development of the land would be a recurring issue.
“I think we need to take a look at the overall plan for this community,” Tana said. “That land is planned for density and high density at that, and I think he’s given us his best shot on what can be built there in the urban node.”
A motion by UCPG member Sid Schipper to allow the planning group to work on an alternative project idea and present it to the San Diego City Council by March 13 was voted down by a majority of members.
“I think that the city council, a vast majority of times, has sided with this group and yes, the Regents Road bridge has stuck in some minds as that not happening, but I think we should go down to City Hall and explain why we decided to vote against this and let the chips fall where they may,” UCPG member George Lattimer said.
The Monte Verde project will go before the planning commission and then be presented to city council in the near future. The planning commission meets Thursday mornings and is open to the public.
UCPG meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the UTC Westfield Shopping Center forum hall above the Wells Fargo bank. For more information, call (858) 453-04335 or send email to [email protected].