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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
.com THE RANCH’S BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS
VOL. 9, NO. 19
OCT. 4, 2013
Community group Leaders aiming for big splash files lawsuit over Rancho Cielo homes with blue economy planning By Jared Whitlock
By Rachel Stine
RANCHO SANTA FE — On Sept. 6, the SDCC (San Dieguito Community Council) filed a lawsuit against San Diego County over the approval of the residential project Rancho Cielo, alleging that the project fails to comply with state environmental standards. After decades of revision, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the Rancho Cielo project, which consists of 24 single-family homes located off of Via Ambiente in Rancho Santa Fe, on Aug. 7. The specific plan for the Rancho Cielo residential project initially came before the Board in 1981. Over 30 years, the specific plan was amended six times. In September 2012, the project was brought before the Board with plans for 42 condominiums and singlefamily homes and a combined community and civic use center. The project was whittled down after that meeting to its current proposal after the Board and residents expressed concerns about the number and style of residences initially proposed. The SDCC was formed just after the County Board
of Supervisors granted approval for the project on Aug. 7, according to Everett DeLano, the attorney representing the group. A nonprofit, the SDCC consists of a number of concerned residents who live near the Rancho Cielo project site. Filed on Sept. 6 in the North County branch of San Diego Superior Court, the lawsuit alleges that the County failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to consider the environmental impacts of the project, prepare an environmental analysis of the project, and consider feasible project alternatives and mitigation. The lawsuit also cites concerns about safety and traffic impacts of the project. The suit seeks to invalidate the county’s approval of the Rancho Cielo project. Rancho Cielo Estates Ltd., the entity applying to construct the residential project, is also named as a respondent in the lawsuit. “The issues (of this project) have obviously changed dramatically since the early ’80s whether its traffic on Del Dios or fire TURN TO HOMES ON A22
REGION — Rows of white buoys floating in the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon are visible from Carlsbad Boulevard. Underwater, mussels cling to the mesh that’s attached to them. The Carlsbad Aquafarm raises and sells these mussels to seafood vendors and restaurants, including local spots like the Oceanaire Seafood Room. Every year, the aquafarm produces an estimated one million pounds of mussels and oysters. And Norm Abell, co-owner of the sustainable aquafarm, said that he’d like to step up production. “Now that aquaculture is finding its place in the local and national economy, we’re looking to scale up,” he said. Demand is increasing for not only aquaculture, but also industries like marine biomedicine and ocean desalination, said Michael Jones, president of San Diego-based Maritime Alliance. Jones and other leaders want to attract these “blue” businesses with a sea change in ocean planning. Their marine spatial planning would determine the best use of the ocean, both on the surface of the water and deep below, with a stakeholder process. That way, everyone from fishermen to shipping companies to naval ships get the most
Norm Abell, co-owner of the Carlsbad Aquafarm, holds up a tray of abalone. Abell noted that the demand for sustainable aquaculture is growing. Leaders hope to draw more “blue” businesses to the region with a process known as marine spatial planning. Photo by Jared Whitlock
out of the sea,while minimizing environmental harm if done right. The upsides of this type of planning are apparent when considering someone who wants to build an offshore aquafarm in San Diego. Currently, the entrepreneur would have to identify the best spots for cultivation — no easy task given that informa-
tion about conflicting shipping lanes, for instance, isn’t readily available. And the entrepreneur might wonder if groups will fight the offshore aquafarm, giving less of an incentive to launch the business. “With marine spatial planning, stakeholders representing businesses and environmentalists have already vetted and approved certain locations
as the best place for your business,” Jones said. The entrepreneur would also have to get permitted through different federal and state agencies — a long, complicated process. “If you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, it’s you against the bureaucracy,”Jones TURN TO BLUE ECONOMY ON A22
Newly signed bill tells motorists to make room for cyclists By Tony Cagala
REGION — Three feet, that’s how much space a vehicle must give when attempting to pass a riding bicyclist along the roadways thanks to new amended legislature signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 23. The bill, known as AB 1371 or the Three Feet for Safety Act, was introduced to the State Assembly in early April by Steven Bradford (DGardenia). The bill’s signing makes California the 22nd state, including Washington, D.C. to help make driving and cycling safer on the roadways. AB 1371 defines an exact distance as opposed to how it’s
currently described broadly as a “safe distance” in the California Vehicle Code Section 21750. As it reads now, the code states that vehicles seeking to overtake another vehicle or bicycle proceeding in the same direction are required to pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. Infractions of this law are enforced by a series of fines. Expected to go into effect Sept. 16, 2014, the new law will continue to enforce the law through a series of fines, cost-
JUST GIVING IT AWAY Electronic artist Datsik prefers to give his new album away rather than sell it. He’ll be performing live this month in San Diego. A10
Two Sections, 44 pages Arts & Entertainment . A10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . B17 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B16 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . . B9 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A16
ing $35 for the first violation and a $220 fine if the infraction results in bodily harm to the bicycle rider. This was the third attempt to have the bill signed into law, but were previously vetoed by the governor. “I think for the safety of all bicyclists, it’s good to have in place just about anywhere,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director at San Diego County Bicycle Coalition when speaking about whether there would be a roadway in particular that could benefit from the new law. “I’m hopeful this law will have an impact on that,” he Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed into law AB 1371 or what’s known as the Three Feet for Safety Act. The new said. “We’ve seen new bike law will require drivers to give bicyclists and other vehicles three feet of space when attempting to pass. Photo improvements and safety by Tony Cagala
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enhancements come up lately, which has been a welcome thing,too.So legislation like AB 1371…complement and help increase safety, along with a continued push for infrastructure, safety enhancements like we’ve had recently.” He credited the city of Solana Beach for their improvements made to Coast Highway 101 and also the road diet in Encinitas. “Safe passing to me, says
we want people to slow down, pass safely when they have to and be aware,” Hanshaw said. “Some of this is common sense. If you’re approaching a cyclist you need to slow down, give them enough space before you pass.This gives it that fine definition, and how it’s enforced, we have a year for law enforcement to consider it.” He said his group will work to help educate people and riders about this as it nears
its September implementation date. Enforcing the new law once it becomes effective will be “challenging,” said Jan Caldwell,public affairs director for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. She said that enforcement will come down to having a deputy being at the scene and witnessing the infraction, and be able to estimate the distance accurately.