Category: Meetings

Meetings

No Rubber Stamp – SD PC Denies QB Initiation Amendment

::  JULY 19TH VOTE IS IN ::

San Diego Planning Commissioners vote 4-1:
NO to Initiate Amendment
NO to Department Staff’s Recommendation

Cogentrix/Goldman Sachs has option to appeal to SD City Council –  Fight continues

New Articles- Hot off the Presses:

rubber-stamp:     ^ Webster’s NewWorld Dictionary, Second College Edition, ISBN 0-671-41809-2 – page 1242 – ”  *rubber-stamp 2. [Colloq.] to approve or endorse in a routine manner, without thought – *rubber stamp – 2. [Colloq.] a) a person, bureau, legislature, etc., that approves or endorses something in a routine manner, without thought, b) any routine approval”

“This is a Beautiful Place. Why would you want to ruin it by putting up a Power Plant?”

“This (Mission Trails) is a beautiful place.  Why would you want to ruin it by putting up a power plant?”  In a “David versus Goliath” moment, Barbara, a brave and poised ten-year-old, stands up before San Diego’s Planning Commissioners on June 28, 2012, to speak out against the Quail Brush Power Plant which is proposed to be constructed right alongside national bio-gem, Mission Trails Regional Park.  Sempra Energy/ SDG&E has awarded a contract to Cogentrix out of North Carolina to build a power plant featuring 11 100-foot smokestacks that would forever mar the beauty of Mission Trails, which features habitats and animals that exist nowhere else on the planet.  This meeting was held to approve or oppose rezoning Open Space land to “Heavy Industrial.”  Opponents of the power plant packed the room.  The vote was 3-2 against initiating the rezoning process.  A majority vote of 4 was needed and therefore the session will be revisited on July 19, 2012.  Ironically, a nay vote was made by a Commissioner whose last name is Smiley.  Before voting, he commented that he saw nothing pristine or scenic about the proposed area.  Those of us who frequent the park beg to differ and suggest that he actually visit Mission Trails  before making another uninformed vote the next time.

Cogentrix Rep Presents Plan at Navajo Planning Committee

Lori Ziebart, Cogentrix Project Manager, appeared at the June 18th Navajo Community Planners meeting to present the Quail Brush Power Plant plans and answer the board’s questions.  It was at the request of Council Member Marti Emerald that the board be apprised of the power plant issue.  Chairman Allen Jones repeated several times that board had no intention of voting one way or the other on the issue and seemed perplexed (and peeved?) that the issue had come to their table.  It didn’t seem to occur to him that it would be a good gesture to stand in solidarity with fellow San Diego communities, and our Santee neighbors by opposing the Quail Brush Power Plant which calls for a rezoning from Open Space to Industrial.

As you can see, the room was filled with people opposed to the power plant.  Ziebart took eight minutes to present her case.

The Navajo Community Planners council, led by Chair Allen Jones (center in orange striped shirt) granted eight minutes to four members of the audience to speak out in opposition to the power plant.

Although the room was full of people who wanted to ask questions or make statements regarding the power plant – many of them Navajo community members – Mr. Jones ended the meeting claiming that everyone had to vacate the premises by 9 PM.  Community members who had been silenced (in violation of the Brown Act) would have been fine with standing out in the parking lot to deliver their comments.  When I mentioned this, I was told to “Be quiet and sit down!”

The woman in the white tee-shirt to the left of the flag (Lynn Murray, the Treasurer) verbally spanked me when she saw me writing comments in their “Sign-In” book.  She pulled the book out of my hands saying that it was “highly inappropriate” and that the group opposing the power plant had “all acted inappropriately.”  In her role as a host, she could have been much more sensitive, welcoming and kind.  The same goes for the rest of the board.  After all, isn’t that what a “community” group is all about?  Or am I missing something?

Have you written your letter yet?

“Act Now and You will have an Impact.” –Congressman Bob Filner addressing the San Diego River Coalition panel on the Quail Brush Power Plant proposal, May 18, 2012 (details below)

Make a commitment to write your letter to the CEC and San Diego Planning Commission by May 31.  Your time investment:  5-10 minutes, as we made it easy for you.  Click here for instructions.  A brief paragraph with your own words are best, or use talking points from the sample letter or other letters on the public docket.  Stong public opposition is a key ingredient in defeating this ill-conceived project.  Don’t delay; do your part today!  And THANK YOU to everyone who has already taken this action step.

“When they see opposition – that’s when they ask for more time. They are trying to narrow the situation to where their control is paramount…the CEC at the State level, where their money and influence and lobbyists all have their say and the public is left out…so this is a process, this is your chance to influence the process…And once the reports come out, Lori is going to come back and say the report is done. You should have been here earlier  – where were you? You’ve all watched this dozens of times. It’s too early when you’re opposed and then when you come back it’s too late. Act now and you will have an impact.”  –Congressman Bob Filner, May 18, 2012

The San Diego River Coalition authorized sending a letter opposing the Quail Brush Power Plant to key decision-makers at its regular meeting May 18, 2012:

“The mission of the San Diego River Coalition is to preserve and enhance the San Diego River, its watershed, and its natural, cultural and recreational resources. Locating an industrial power plant at the proposed location within the Mission Trails Design District of East Elliot would contradict and be incompatible with the mission, vision and principles of the San Diego River Coalition. Therefore, we urge you to oppose changes to ‘laws, ordinances, standards and regulations’(LORS) needed to site the ‘Quail Brush Power Plant’ within the Mission Trails Design District of East Elliot and upon a parcel one-half-mile from the San Diego River.”


Note: A list of fifty-nine San Diego River Coalition organizations can be found at http://www.sandiegoriver.org/coalition.php
The executive boards of some San Diego River Coalition organizations had not considered the Quail Brush issue prior to the meeting and did not authorize a vote by their representatives. Other organizations were absent. There was a single vote against sending the letter of opposition.

2nd Continuance: SD Planning Commission Hearing – Thurs, June 28th, 9am

The San Diego Planning Commission recommends rezoning the land to industrial  so Congentrix can proceed to build the power plant.
Attend the meeting & say NO!   Gather a group and carpool to this meeting.
(see map below)   Parking structure at this location – $18 all day parking (less if not all day)

Quail Brush Community Plan Amendment Initiation
The San Diego Planning Commission will consider a request to initiate an amendment to the East Elliot Community Plan to redesignate a portion of a 22 acre parcel from open space to industrial to allow future development of a 100 megawatt intermediate/peaking load energy generation facility.    Exempt from local, independent environmental review!

ACTION OF COMMISSION: Approve or deny the amendment initiation

SAN DIEGO PLANNING COMMISSION
THURSDAY   June 28, 2012,  9:00 A.M.
CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
202 C STREET, 12TH FLOOR
San Diego, CA 92101