Planning another park - no economic benefit

Pacifica Tribune, Letters-to-the-Editor,1/10/12, "No more parks"."Editor:  Recently the city sent out a notice of a meeting slated for tonight regarding necessary budget cuts. Included in this notification is a link for a survey that lists a range of options that encompass cuts to PB&R, senior services, raising utility user taxes and the elimination of our police department, which would be replaced by the county. These are tough choices that unfortunately have to be made at this time.

Pedro Point looking toward Linda Mar Beach

What doesn't make sense at this time is that a five-acre parcel on Pedro Point is being set aside in the General Plan for development into a park. If 50 residential housing units were developed on this property, at an average cost of $700,000 per unit, the property tax revenue to the city would be about $42,000. This amount is just the city's 12 percent share of the 1 percent ad valorum tax on real estate. This doesn't include the addition of special assessments, the benefits of the people living on this property shopping at local stores, etc. If this property were converted into a neighborhood park, the revenue would be $0.00. Actually it would be a negative if we have to pay to maintain it.

This is, of course, a revenue source that may not be realized in the near future. It is long term planning. However, earmarking this property for use as a park is NO planning for our economic future. Given that some of our council members have served for over a decade, isn't it about time that they begin the long-term planning for future revenue and not repeatedly keep coming back to the table with cuts and special assessments? No time like the present."

Gil Anda 

Posted by Kathy Meeh