District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner sent a request to residents via the La Jolla Shores Association to share their views on a proposed driveway for UCSD’s Venter Institute that would allow access to the institute from Torrey Pines Road. The driveway has been a contentious part of the project, which is under construction on La Jolla Village Drive across from the university. Residents say access to the facility from Torrey Pines Road would create a traffic nightmare on the already-choked thoroughfare. Below is the email Lightner sent out encouraging residents to make their concerns known: Dear Neighbors, We have heard from many of you about your concerns about the Venter Institute, which is currently under construction on Torrey Pines Road at La Jolla Village Drive. Since last year, I have been in talks with UCSD about the access to the Venter site. I oppose a driveway to the Venter Institute from Torrey Pines Road. A driveway onto Torrey Pines Road will create numerous dangers for cars and pedestrians, increase traffic in the surrounding neighborhood, and cause traffic backups. UCSD should take access from Expedition Way, which is on university property. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has requested controlled access for emergency vehicles off Torrey Pines Road, and I support their request as long as this driveway otherwise remains closed. It is crucial that UCSD know that this issue is important to you and your neighbors. You can let them know by contacting the following UCSD officials and telling them to take access to the Venter Institute off Expedition Way, not Torrey Pines Road: Chancellor Pradeep Khosla: [email protected] Gary Matthews, Vice Chancellor of Resource Management & Planning: [email protected] Robert Friedman, COO, Venter Institute: [email protected] Please copy Mayor Bob Filner and me on your emails: [email protected] [email protected] Please feel free to distribute this message to your friends and neighbors. Thank you, and please contact me with any additional questions, comments, or concerns. Sincerely, Sherri Sherri S. Lightner Council President Pro Tem, District 1 City of San Diego (619) 236-6611 [email protected]