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>> >>AMITA: A a massive development being pitched for Carmel valley in northern San
Diego is provoking out cries from the community. What price main street, Andrew Keatts a reporter
from voice of San Diego joins me now. Before we launch into the specifics of the
project, why should our viewers care? >> >>ANDREW KEATTS: Even if you don't live
in Carmel valley, this is the same type of fight you can imagine all around San Diego,
there's growth projections that suggest population just based on people who already living here
having children is going to push the existing communities to start accommodating all sorts
of population density that aren't in place right now.
So with a project like this that brings in a lot of density, you're seeing a pre precursor
to fights that might come to other communities. >> >>AMITA: You described this project as
a mega development, why? >> >>ANDREW KEATTS: It's a 23 and a half acre
parcel right at the Del Mar heights and Camino real roads.
It's 600 housing units, 200,000 square feet of retail, 500,000 square feet of office space,
4,000 parking spaces. You're going to see another seven acres or
so of open space. You're really just talking about a very large
project. Let alone the fact it's only the parcel is
already only entitled to 500,000 square feet of office space.
You're looking at three times that much. But even if you forget about the entitlements
or what the ideal size it is 1.4Êmillion square feet of development in any area is
a very large development. >> >>AMITA: This very large development was
discussed last night at a planning commission meeting.
What happened there? >> >>ANDREW KEATTS: The planning commission
which is ultimately going to render
Somewhat of a surprise. >> >>GUEST SPEAKER: Mayor Bob Filner showed
up. The guy has a flare for the dramatic.
He never minces words or shies away from a fight.
He didn't last night either. He ripped the project.
He ripped the developers for having the audacity to come in and their initial proposal was
2.1Êmillion square feet. They've moved that down to 1.4Êmillion.
As he said it was audacious for them to even think they could propose something that was
four times the existing entitlement for the area.
And then suggest that they had respect for the community.
So he basically said that he would fight the project and he doesn't support it.
>> >>AMITA: Now y know you said there aren't any polling numbers on who is for it, and
who's against it, but what's your sense of the opposition to this project? How strong
are they? >> >>ANDREW KEATTS: I mean, it's Carmel valley
is a wealthy area in downtown, an area where these people who like their neighborhood,
they bought into the community for the reason that you know they liked the way it is, and
they want to keep it that way. So they're well armed with facts and they
strongly oppose this project. Also, on their side is the developer who owns
the property right next door, the Del Mar highlands area, they have enlisted a lobbyist
south west strategies to lobby against the project in city hall.
So you know, it's a well healed opposition. >> >>AMITA: What is your sense of the effect
that the developers scaling down on the project has on the opposition.
Has it made a dent? >> >>ANDREW KEATTS: It's tat had none at all.
The way they look at it ask s you came out with a project that was four times the size
of the existing entitlement, and now you've reduced it to three times the existing entitlement
and you're expecting us to be hammy about that.
Happy about that. Their way is why wouldn't you start in n sted
at 500,000 square foot feet and maybe try to have a conversation to increase it.
One of the members of the planning board said something very similar to that last night.
So, you know, they've made these reduce and it has not insignificantly decreased the size
of the project but hasn't won them any support. >> >>AMITA: Thank you so much for speaking
to us about this project. We're going to be hearing a lot more, I'm
sure.