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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2019 Item 9, Linder Christian, Kevin From:Megan Linder <megan.linder@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, January To:E-mail Council Website Subject:790 Foothill Dear City Council Members, I am writing to express my extreme opposition to the 790 Foothill project and implore you to vote in favor of the appeal on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. This council has approved several atrocious projects recently claiming that the California Housing Accountability Act renders them powerless. This is not completely true. The Act requires that cities approve projects that comply with the City's General Plan and zoning ordinances. The Act doesn't require, however, that cities grant developers' every wish and exempt them from other local ordinances (building height requirements, site density limits, minimum parking, etc.). Approval of the 790 Foothill project does just that. While the Act provides challenges, it doesn't demand that City's decision makers just roll over. It should not be used, as stated by Councilmember Aaron Gomez, to provide "political cover," (Times of San Diego, 9/30/17) for the Councilmembers who don't want to deal with the anger of their constituents. City Council Members are elected with the understanding that they can read and interpret laws and find solutions within those confines that are in the best interests of the community. Saying, "the State made me do it," is just an excuse for intellectual laziness. This is not a "low income" or "workforce" housing project. This is nothing more than luxury student housing, and more luxury student housing is certainly not needed (22 Chorro is only a third full!). A few token units will be at below-market rates, and those are being dangled in front of the Council like a shiny object. There are many reasons why this project should be denied outright, but i f it must be built, it must be scaled down radically. The loss of the view of Bishops Peak will be forever. Please make a wise decision. Megan Linder 1