Coastal Act is most important factor in Scripps reserve closure
I find it to be very telling that those arguing for the continuation of UC San Diego’s Scripps Coastal Reserve public access closure fail to acknowledge the California Coastal Act’s centrality to this case.
Instead, letter writer David Amitai relies on the assertion that “There was little regard to following rules” (“There are good reasons to keep access to reserve restricted,” Our Readers Write, April 11, La Jolla Light). But what are these rules?
Amitai stated that he personally saw visitors enter “off-limits areas” from his house overlooking the reserve and that “people would walk up or down from Sumner Canyon.” Yes, the public regularly walked from the reserve’s loop trail into Sumner Canyon to access Black’s Beach and then returned via the same route. This is a historical beach accessway that was openly used by the public from 1956 to 2020.
This was not a violation of the “rules,” and its use is legally protected by the California Coastal Act.
The California Coastal Act is not some obscure law. It is landmark legislation and its coastal access protections define us as Californians.
UC San Diego did not just fail to obtain some bureaucratic permit. They illegally closed off access to the coast and the beach. This violation is even more egregious due to the fact that the violating party is itself a state entity.
Georgine Brave
Plenty to consider about Via Capri pedestrian safety
Thank you for your article on the proposed stop signs along Via Capri at Via Siena (“Proposed Via Capri crosswalk and stop signs get thumbs down from La Jolla Shores board,” April 18, La Jolla Light).
While the action by the board was to vote no on the proposed stop signs, it was felt by several that more information was needed to decide between other potential alternatives.
The reason for the proposed stop signs is pedestrian safety for those that cross at or near this location, an issue I agree with. Other options to consider are HAWK beacons, as well as flashing yellow lights and LED activated traffic signs.
While permanent stop signs with a crosswalk are a solution, requiring all vehicles to stop on a major throughway has its own set of drawbacks.
We look forward to considering this issue again in light of the request for more information.
Mike McCormack
La Jolla Shores Association board member
Clearing up some things about ‘Complete Communities’
I want to address three misconceptions about “Complete Communities” housing:
• Taxpayer dollars fund low-income housing.
In my experience as a developer, this is completely incorrect. We have not received a single dollar from the local/state/federal government to fund low-income housing. Every dollar has come out of our pocket.
• Waiving development impact fees will result in a net loss for the city, requiring it to raise taxes.
The development impact fee is a nominal figure that the city will recoup from the project within the first few months of the new construction being completed.
How is this so? When a developer builds new housing, the valuation of that project is far greater than what was previously present on that land. This results in far greater tax revenue for the city through property taxes. We may tear down a site where the city was previously collecting $6,000 a year in property taxes and build a site where the city will now collect $175,000 per year in property taxes. This is an outstanding return on investment for the city.
• Developers are allowed to tear down previously existing low-income housing without replacing it.
When an existing unit is demoed and replaced, San Diego reviews past tenants’ income levels. If income is less than 80 percent of the area median, those units are protected. Developers must replace them with same-size units reserved for low-income residents for 55 years.
Replacing homes creates more units; leaving them reduces housing. Leaving an existing home also reduces the likelihood of it remaining affordable, as an owner can renovate it and bring it to market value without restrictions.
Mike Tighe
Managing partner, Takeoff Capital
What’s on YOUR mind?
Letters published in the La Jolla Light express views from readers about community matters. Submissions of related photos also are welcome. Letters reflect the writers’ opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher. Letters are subject to editing. To share your thoughts in this public forum, email them with your first and last names and city or neighborhood of residence to [email protected]. You also can submit a letter online at lajollalight.com/submit-a-letter-to-the-editor. The deadline is 10 a.m. Monday for publication in that week’s paper. Letters without the writer’s name cannot be published. Letters from the same person are limited to one in a 30-day period. See the full policy at lajollalight.com/policy. ◆
