The slope failure occurred in October 2023 and necessitates excavation and reimpacting, along with revegetation, according to the applicant.
A request for a slope repair received a rare action to make a preliminary review final with approval from the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee May 13.
The slope failure, located on six acres of environmentally sensitive, steep hillside on a vacant, open space-designated lot between Caminito Bassano East and Hillside Drive, occurred in October 2023, according to project application Dan Valdez.
The failure was caused by an improperly sealed autofill drain on the pool of the adjacent property, with the autofill valve stuck open.
To fix the slope failure, crews will excavate the area and then reimpact it with two-foot lifts, Valdez said. Each lift will have geogrid reinforcements to help stabilize the slope face.
A heel drain will be installed to address any ground water and prevent recurrence of hydrostatic pressure buildup.
Measures will be taken to prevent further erosion, and “the plumbing problems should have been fixed by now,” Valdez said.
The finished product will not have retaining walls or slope reinforcement; the slope will look like it was before the failure and will be revegetated.
“It will be stronger,” Valdez said.
DPR trustees had few questions before moving to make the preliminary review final, which requires a unanimous vote of the trustees.
Subsequently, a second motion to approve the project as a final review passed with no opposition and only DPR Chair Brian Will abstaining as is customary.
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