A Coastal Development Permit for this pipeline was issued on Jan. 28, 1999. That year this project became the political cause celebre of the no-growth political faction when Carol Cupp appealed it to the California Coastal Commission. Later that year she, Eva Coleman, and Eleanor Wittrup were elected to the CCWD board and then asked the Coastal Commission to find substantial issues with the permit.
Two years later Chris Mickelsen and I were elected to the CCWD board and at our first meeting demanded that the board request that the dispute be resolved at the Coastal Commission. Two years later the Coastal Commission found no merit in the appeals and ordered the CDP to be re-issued. The project was to be constructed in three phases; the first phase is now complete. Phase 2 and 3 are now at a stage where they need only CDPs to move forward.
|
|
At the June 20 meeting, Planning Director Jack Liebster stated the water district agreed that the city had the right to request more studies. We do agree, but the issue is not the right to request more costly and delaying studies but the need for these studies.
The CDP issued upon the Coastal Commission's resolution of the Cupp appeal did not require any new studies. Construction of Phase 1 was completed in June 2005, two months later, Liebster wanted to restart the costly and slow process that had been completed by January 1999.
Many individuals who have had to request permits from the city's Planning Department have found themselves embroiled in lengthy bureaucratic procedures and costly studies to gain a building permit. We should see this for what it is, a political exercise of abusive executive power at the hands of individuals who oppose almost any new development within our community.
These policies have resulted in homeowners being forced to live for years with stalled remodeling projects, a requirement that model airplane hobbyists must get a CDP to fly their planes, and - in the case of the water district - another costly delay of a needed infrastructure renewal project.
The City Council should tell the Planning Director to stop exercising pointless executive powers to needlessly hassle citizens and sister agencies just because he can. The Planning Department and its director should serve the public not impede it.
•
Jim Larimer is a member of the CCWD Board of Directors and a resident of Miramar.
w