A group of elected officials and community leaders working to gather signatures for a One Paseo referendum spoke Wednesday on the reasoning behind an appeal process.
“When I heard the council vote, I became concerned about the precedent this could set for development around San Diego,” said San Diego County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Dave Roberts.
Roberts was joined by San Diego City Council President Sherri Lightner, one of the city council members that voted ‘no’ on the plan; Joe LaCava, the chair of the San Diego Community Planners Committee; and local city representatives and leaders.
The San Diego City Council gave the controversial One Paseo project their final stamp of approval Monday. The final vote on the 23.6-acre mixed-use development project in Carmel Valley went before the council on Monday afternoon.
Supporters say it will be a positive addition to the community, bringing 1,600 new jobs, 600 news homes and $630 million to the local economy.
However, Roberts called the decision “so egregious” that there was no other way to approach the matter than with a referendum.
The One Paseo Project includes the construction of stores and eateries, the expansion of a movie theater and the addition of more than 600 family apartments and a parking structure.
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The developer also says there is a plan in place to pay for $6 million in road improvements and projects that aim to improve travel times.
Hundreds of people showed up to voice their opinions on the plan before the council in January. Lightner said she believed it was “devastating” to see the opposing viewpoint ignored.
“Why does this entity get to ruin it for everyone? Essentially it’s ruining it for everyone,” said Lightner. “It will be gridlock out there. It will destroy the community.”
Rachel Laing, a spokewoman for the project, said it was approved after months of studying and vetting traffic concerns.
"It is the height of arrogance for Council President Lightner to insist her stance on One Paseo is more educated or correct than that of the city's professional planning staff and the vast majority of her colleagues," said Laing in a statement, "or that the opinions of community members who happen to agree with her are more valuable than the thousands who support the project."
Signatures on a referendum would act more like an appeal process and would put the measure before the City Council again.
“Let’s be clear, this is not a referendum on smart growth or the city’s general plan,” said Roberts. “This effort is targeted solely on this project, the council’s approval the role of community planning groups.”
The council gave their initial OK to the plan in late February, though they did say developer Kilroy Realty must add 60 affordable housing units and a synchronized traffic system.
Council President Sherri Lightner and Council President Pro Tem Marti Emerald were the dissenting votes.
