An agreement may be in the works between two sides divided over Carmel Valley’s controversial One Paseo Project.
The revelation came as the San Diego City Council sat down to debate the issue at Golden Hall Monday and vote to either reverse their approval of the $750 million development or send it to the ballot.
Instead, the council announced it just found out a deal may be negotiated between the developer, Kilroy Realty, and its opponents. The attorneys for both sides stood up and said they were closer than they had been in the past, but would not be specific.
Still, it was enough for the council to decide to hold off for now, despite the obvious frustration from the crowd who came to weigh in and see the resolution of a debate now years in the making.
“[This] is unconscionable,” said one speaker. “The appropriate time for a continuance would have been at the last city council meeting.”
The city council vote was continued until Thursday, allowing the two stakeholders more time to work out an agreement.
Neither side gave any hints as to what the deal might entail.
"I can't tell you much. I'm afraid I'm bound by confidentiality, but the bottom line is there were some sticking points with the community and they've looked to address those,” said Rachel Laing with Kilroy Realty.
Jeff Powers with Protect San Diego’s Neighborhoods, a group against the project, just acknowledged there was a negotiation.
“So we'll let that continue where it's going to continue, but again, you saw the turnout,” said Powers. “The voices of San Diegans are going to be heard on this issue."
The city council approved One Paseo 7-2 in late February, but they are now forced to reconsider the issue after petition gatherers collected enough signatures to send it back to the council.
The city clerk verified 51,796 verified signatures were collected of the 23,224 that were needed.
The 1.4 million square-foot 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 in Carmel Valley. Sixty of those apartment units will be affordable housing, the city council mandated.
Local
According to opponents, the council disregarded the voice of community planning groups and thousands of locals who don't want the project to move forward.
They believe it is too big for the Carmel Valley area and will create a traffic nightmare.
But supporters, including Kilroy Realty, say it will bring 1,600 new jobs, 600 new homes and $630 million to the local economy.
Multiple groups banded together to file two separate lawsuits against the project, hoping to block its development in the courts.
