A housing redevelopment was approved by the La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) in June after the two-story project was initially nixed and developers met with neighbors to successfully re-negotiate a settlement.
President Cindy Greatrex noted a special election will be held in July to fill one vacant trustee seat. Three contestants for the LJCPA seat, CA Marengo, John Shannon and Sheila Palmer, were announced.
Marengo was not in attendance but Palmer, a 40-year La Jolla resident and Shannon, a Realtor and engineer, spoke on their own behalfs.
Palmer discussed minimizing antagonism between real estate investors and residents while “improving the quality of life here.”
“I’m passionate about preserving the natural beauty and accessibility of the coastline,” said Shannon adding, “I have a great interest in understanding and heading off problems before they start.”
The housing development reconsidered by LJCPA was the Klein residence at 2585 Calle De Oro in La Jolla Shores.
Speaking for the Kleins, architect Paul Benton re-introduced the project showing in detail, through blueprints and computer-generated images, that it had been significantly altered addressing community concerns about proper proportions and setbacks.
“My client is really taking this to heart,” said Benton of community planners’ previous suggestions that project alterations were necessary. “We’ve communicated with all four neighbors, on all four sides, and we’ve worked a lot of compromises.”
Benton walked the advisory group through proposed project changes noting the dwelling is no longer a “monolithic structure,” adding it’s been “dug into the slope.”
 From the audience, Sheila Palmer suggested developers would have been better off showing a scale model of the project to put it in proper perspective.
Another spectator, Sally Miller, asked if the home being demolished to make way for the re-development was two stories, and was told it was one story.
“This designed solution is good for the neighborhood and good for the community,” noted La Jolla architect Michael Morton from the audience.
“I appreciate the sensitivity shown by the applicant,” said LJCPA trustee Glen Rasmussen.
Trustee Alex Outwater noted the new home has been “nicely setback from the street. It’s a very nice project. Most importantly, they’ve (developers) worked with the neighbors to reach an agreement.”
LJCPA voted unanimously in favor of the amended project.
It was also announced by Greatrex at the meeting that longtime La Jollan and civic activist Ed Ward had died.
LJCPA will next meet Thursday, July 7 at 6 p.m. at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.