The La Jolla Community Planning Association took steps this week to make sure its voice continues to be heard amid city of San Diego projects and proposals.
It also endorsed a city proposal to change sign regulations.
The board voted at its Jan. 7 meeting to authorize LJCPA President Lisa Kriedeman to vote on its behalf at Community Planners Committee meetings. Kriedeman was not present at the LJCPA meeting.
Lisa Kriedeman is president of the La Jolla Community Planning Association. (Island Architects)
The CPC is made up of one representative (usually the chairperson) of each of the city’s recognized community planning groups. It provides a forum to discuss citywide planning issues.
The CPC also reviews and votes on proposed changes to development regulations. More than 100 proposed changes are expected this year.
“There is a huge, long list of code changes, and it’s always hard to tell what is going to have an effect,” said acting LJCPA President Greg Jackson.
The board’s vote empowers Kriedeman to represent the association in case a proposed change does not go before LJCPA.
Local volunteer Kathleen Neil, who is the alternate if Kriedeman can’t attend a CPC meeting, said “There are a lot of different voices … but if you don’t show up and vote for your community group, you then have no voice at the city.”
Sign regulations
Currently, signs that project or stick out from their base are not allowed in certain areas of La Jolla because the community has two “subdistricts” divided by Pearl Street. Projecting signs are allowed in the subdistrict south of Pearl but not north of Pearl without a special permit.
Examples of projecting signs in La Jolla include Starbucks at 5604 La Jolla Blvd. and CJ Charles Jewelers at 1135 Prospect St.
Recently the city proposed an amendment to the land development code that would allow projecting signs along the public right of way north of Pearl Street, provided they comply with specific design characteristics.
City planner Megan Covarrubias said at the LJCPA meeting that the amendment would group the two subdistricts together and adjust the policy to consistently allow projecting signs in both.
After some clarifying questions, the board voted to support the amendment.
Other LJCPA news
Home projects: The consent agenda — which typically is approved as a slate without discussion — contained two projects that had been approved unanimously by an LJCPA subcommittee and also were approved by the board.
One project at 6555 El Camino del Teatro would demolish a 2,691-square-foot house and its garage and build a new two-story, 4,495-square-foot house over a basement with subterranean parking. The development also would include an attached 1,067-square-foot garage and a one-car carport, along with a 639-square-foot detached accessory dwelling unit.
The other project, at 9036 La Jolla Shores Lane, would amend coastal development and site development permits to build a two-story, 3,189-square-foot house on a vacant lot.
Election: Leading up to its annual board election in March, LJCPA will have an optional candidates forum during its February meeting. Candidates will be allowed up to two minutes to introduce themselves and discuss their reasons for running.
The deadline to announce candidacy and be listed on the ballot is the end of the February meeting.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Community Planning Association next meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at a location to be determined. The agenda will be posted 72 hours in advance at lajollacpa.org. ♦