The Peninsula Beacon asked prominent Peninsulans to gaze into their crystal balls and tell us what they see ahead in 2016.
Here is what they said: Lorie Zapf
City aide Conrad Wear said his boss, Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, expects another busy year representing the residents of District 2.
“Policy priorities include a variety of issues facing the district, including continued dialogue regarding short-term vacation rentals, advocating for the retention of waypoint LOWMA by the FAA, and continued preparation and public outreach for El Nino, especially in neighborhoods prone to flooding,” Wear said. “On a proactive note, Councilmember Zapf looks to bring forth measures at her Smart Growth and Land Use Committee that would make housing more affordable for middle-class families. And an update to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan.
“Finally, Zapf plans to support Mayor Faulconer with another fiscally responsible budget including the repaving of more than 1,000 miles of streets over the next several years. She will remain a strong supporter of Proposition B, Pension Reform, which is allowing the City to reinvest millions of tax dollars back into our neighborhoods.” Byron Wear
Conrad Wear’s dad, Byron, was city councilman for District 2 for two terms from 1995 to 2002 and now runs Wear Strategies, a land use, transportation and strategic planning firm. He had these top community goals for 2016:
• Retention of the 1998 FAA Bilbray-Wear-negotiated LOWMA waypoint agreement and continued adherence for Lindbergh Field flight departures as supported by Faulconer, Zapf, Congressman Scott Peters and County Supervisor Cox.
• Resolution with Department of Interior on the terms for the long-overdue NTC Aquatic Center as a joint YMCA/San Diego Unified School District project to include a home pool for Point Loma High School.
• Fundraising identified for the Phase III completion of the Peninsula (Ryan Family) YMCA on Valeta Street to include new expanded fitness, program space, gym, new locker rooms and an intergenerational space serving youth and seniors.
• Initiation of planning design concepts for the new Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station and adjacent restrooms.
• Identification of fundraising strategies for a phased expansion of the Ocean Beach Library.
• Completion of planning and final design for the new Ruth Varney Held Children’s Playground at Saratoga Street in Ocean Beach.
• Completion of fundraising and ground breaking for the Ocean Beach Veterans Plaza.
•  Continued investment by Faulconer and the City Council in neighborhood and community infrastructure and street repairs. Korla Eaquinta
Longtime Point Loman Korla Eaquinta talked about what’s important to her moving forward.
“My concerns for this new year are the pipeline (relocation from the submarine base of a fuel pipeline to Miramar along Rosecrans Street) and how it will impact our community,” she said. “Traffic disruptions are a given, but I am seriously worried about the LaPlaya path and what will happen when they start on that.”
Eaquinta said she’s also concerned about code compliance. “There is a lot of development with minimal oversight,” she said. “This will impact traffic, parking and generally diminish quality of life on the Peninsula. Finally, I am terrified about the flight path change and how it will affect noise (quality of life) and how it will affect all our property values.”   Jon Linney and Don Sevrens Community planners and activists Jon Linney and Don Sevrens said they were looking forward to making progress on a project they’ve been spearheading, creation of a new, neighborhood pocket park.
“A new park is coming to the vastly under-parked Point Loma peninsula, and 2016 will be a year of great progress,” the men said in a joint news release. “The pocket park site on city-owned land is above Canon Street at the end of Avenida de Portugal. As yet unnamed, it will be special with expected nautical, ecological and Portuguese community historical themes. It is an honor to be leading the effort with a growing team of volunteers. This year we expect City Council approval of the spending plan, public workshops on what the community wants and the beginning of the design phase. The park will make a great community even better.” Alan Ziter
Alan Ziter, executive director/vice president of the NTC Foundation at Liberty Station, said there’s a lot to look forward to at the redeveloped former Naval Base in the upcoming year.
“The community’s vision continues to be realized with the transformation of 26 abandoned buildings into dance and music studios, art galleries, museums, shops and award-winning restaurants like Solare,” Ziter said.
“Within the buildings, the nonprofit NTC Foundation will continue arts programs for students and military families, keep rents affordable for our artists and nonprofits, preserve the legacy of Naval Training Center San Diego and advance its new mission as The Arts District @ Liberty Station.”
Ziter said plans are under way for 2016 with the establishment of a new Art in Public Places Committee, an expansion of its Liberty School program for at-risk youth, and the return of the Latin American Arts Festival in March and ArtWalk in August.
“Plus we have 10 more buildings to renovate for their new mission in the Arts District,” Ziter noted. “Clearly, the job’s not done, and planning will revolve around what to do with the remaining buildings and how to fund renovations.”
Ziter said San Diegans can “look forward to several major openings in the Arts District in the first half of 2016, including the Liberty Public Market, the Lot cinemas and entertainment hub, and Fireside by the Patio restaurant, and Buona Forchetta.”