Overriding some neighbors’ objections, Pacific Beach Planning Group voted 12-3-1 on Dec. 1 in favor of current proposed design plans for a new, 3,500-square-foot lifeguard tower in North Pacific Beach to be built into the coastal canyon at the foot of Law Street.
“Too big,” was the answer given by those not favoring the measure, with community planner Michael Beltran noting he was “torn” over his vote, believing a new tower is needed but that it needs to be downscaled.
Colleague Chris Olson expressed concerns about the ramp leading down to the beach and restroom facilities not being disabled-accessible.
“More than a year ago, we (PBPG) were asked to review site locations and design for a North PB lifeguard tower to be centrally located somewhere between Crystal Pier and PB Point,” said PBPG subcommittee chair Scott Chipman adding, “Fifteen years ago the City Council determined another lifeguard tower was important to the area for public safety.”
Acknowledging there’s been “opposition in general” with some neighbors from the start of the project, Chipman noted the planning group’s task has “not been to decide whether there should or should not be a lifeguard tower” but to determine “what the best site was for it and make recommendations on designs.”
Engineering consultants for the city gave a slideshow presentation showing floor plans for the new tower as well as computer simulations representing its appearance.
After the consultant’s presentation, PBPG members debated the merits of the city’s proposed tower proposal.
“It’s better than anybody envisioned,” said longtime planner Eve Anderson.
Board member and commercial Realtor Tony Franco expressed concern about the project’s estimated $6 million price tag. “Who’s going to foot the bill for this?” he asked.
Planner Baylor Triplett acknowledged some residents are questioning “the need for a new lifeguard tower in the first place.”
Olson said his primary concern with the project from the start has been “how much of the beach is going to be taken up for things like this.”
Residents opposing the project were allowed one minute to speak. Several said they felt the project was being railroaded through without proper public vetting.
Neighbor Richard Slater said the city was “ignoring the elephant in the room” by overlooking the fact the project “will cost lots of money.”
Another neighbor presented a petition to the group with 2,000 claimed signatures opposing the tower as presently construed.
Outspoken tower critic Micaela Porte, conceding the need for a lifeguard tower, nonetheless noted “smaller is smarter.”
“We’ve asked that it be scaled back, it’s too big, too tall,” said Porte, who added she felt neighbors deserved more time to present their case for further tower modification.
“We have come to every meeting protesting this plan,” Porte said. “This is going to cause erosion problems. There are a lot of wrong things in these plans.”
PBPG chair Brian Curry asked consultants how much of the tower would be hidden from sight and was told “roughly 46 percent of the building is buried.”
Ken Giavara, a Mission Beach oceanfront homeowner who has taken the lead in opposing a proposed lifeguard tower there that is now tied up in court, warned that the planning group — and the city — need to take note that lifeguard towers are being carefully scrutinized by residents to ensure they’re properly vetted.
Chipman said opponents of the North PB lifeguard tower plans need to make their case before two city planning committees: Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods or Smart Growth and Land Use.
“Though it is not the views of the overall PB Planning Group, I opposed the construction of the 3,600-square-foot lifeguard station because the structure is too large, doesn’t seem to represent the majority interest of the community and the project is not environmentally friendly,” said Franco. “The PBPG always discusses how we are suppose to be environmentally friendly, yet we just approved a project that will be cutting away at a beautiful sea cliff and erecting a large commercial structure in North PB. To me, this is contradictory.”