The final attempt to stop the Bird Rock development was struck down at San Diego City Council.
True to its translation into English, the Adelante (meaning “forward”) Townhomes project approval was upheld at San Diego City Council Jan 27, with council members unanimously denying appeal of the San Diego Planning Commission.
The Adelante Townhomes project at 5575 La Jolla Blvd in Bird Rock received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission in September.
The project proposes the demolition of an existing office building, the subdivision of one lot into 13 condominium units and one commercial unit and construction of one new two-story, multi-family residential building with a basement level, covered parking and roof decks.
One of the residential units in the 21,485-square-foot project, brought forth by Murfey Company, will be affordable to very low-income households; the inclusion of the affordable unit means Murfey Co. is able to waive a La Jolla Planned District Ordinance requirement that 50 percent of the ground floor of such a development have retail space, among other waivers and incentives.
Adelante Townhomes rendering/Murfey Company
The project has been heard at community level a dozen times since its application, receiving approval despite objections the project does not conform with the La Jolla Community Plan or PDO and development regulations.
“Our fundamental concern with this project is the minimal commercial space,” said Julie Hamilton, attorney for the appellant La Jolla Village Residents Association at City Council.
Bird Rock “has spent significant resources developing a pedestrian-oriented, visitor-serving commercial use area,” she said, adding commercial is “a higher priority use than residential.”
The area is “highly attractive” for visitors to the coastal zone, Hamilton said, and “not for the people that live in La Jolla.” The loss of commercial use will diminish the California Coastal Commission-protected value of the coast.
Land use attorney Heather Riley states the Adelante project conforms to all regulations.
However, none of Adelante’s requested waivers and incentives are contrary to the Coastal Act,” said land use attorney Heather Riley.
But the proposed 23-story development a few blocks away on Turquoise Street “has demonstrated emphatically [that] it is necessary to review carefully whether a development is entitled to requested incentives and waivers,” Bird Rock Community Council President Joe Terry in support of the appeal.
“Other Bird Rock developments have resulted in local job creation, economic growth and needed housing in a desirable location,” Terry said. “They did that complying with development standards intended to maintain the Bird Rock commercial district.”
The following is entitled to the requested incentives and waivers. It does not require additional incentives.
Murfey Co. “could have requested an incentive to remove the commercial component in its entirety,” said city of San Diego staff member Benjamin Hafertepe in recommending the project, adding the application “voluntarily elected to include” the commercial unit in response to the community request.
After thoroughly reviewing each appeal issue, city staff maintain its determination that “the development project is consistent with the goals and policies and development regulations in effect for this site,” Hafertepe said, urging City Council to deny the appeal and affirm the Planning Commission decision to approve the project.
“All of the opposition’s comments are unfounded,” said Russ Murfey, Murfey Co. cofounder and Bird Rock resident. “Adelante is a project that meets the city and state approval criteria.”
Others spoke for and against the project’s appeal, mentioning the need for housing or concern with the lack of commercial development.
Ultimately, City Council agreed with city staff and denied the appeal.
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