Pacifica Riptide, 2/1/13. "Opinion: We need open space and economic development." by John Curtis
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| Mori Point geographical center of the city |
Why has the City Council
allowed Pacifica’s long-standing Open Space Committee (OSC) to languish?
The committee has not been able to meet for lack of a quorum, and the
city has done nothing to appoint new members.This
is important. The OSC and the Golden Gate National Recreational Area
(GGNRA) Advisory Board are the main connections between Pacificans and
public officials on critical open-space issues. Here, concerned citizens
are not just limited to three minutes at a public hearing. Issues can
be thoroughly discussed before recommendations are made to the Planning
Commission and City Council.
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| Quarry not developed |
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| Small house, cars, open space |
The
OSC was formed decades ago. If you remember, there were plans for big
housing developments all over Pacifica, with little real concern for
open-space impacts. It was the era of “condomania.” The
public was alarmed. In response, the City Council, led by Councilmember
Chuck Curry, formed an Open Space Task Force to identify and evaluate
the open-space resources of the most important private parcels and
government-owned public lands. The Task Force was made up of folks from
all over Pacifica, along with two planning commissioners and two
councilmembers. The system
worked well, and many potentially ugly confrontations between citizens
and the City Council, not to mention potential referendum elections,
were avoided.
The current City
Council has announced its intention to focus on economic development,
and has appointed a citizens committee for that purpose. I applaud that. Pacifica
needs an Economic Development Committee and an Open Space Committee. I
hope that, working together, Pacifica will have beneficial development
that complements the open space we all love and value."
Submitted by Jim Wagner
Posted by Kathy Meeh
13 comments:
Didn't Curtis get arrested for shoplifting at the Pak N Save?
Ahhh, John Curtis. The name brings back so many memories. Bankrupt builders, 51% open space, nobies and their rants. Pacificans for Sustainable Development. He was instrumental in leading that orginazation in a quest to stop anything from defiling his vision of Pacifica. That man has done more to put this town on the verge of bankruptcy than anyone one else. Even his crony, DeJarnatt, was less destructive and devious.
Any vision that he may have of the importance of the open space committee is clouded by his radicalism. Open Space is not needed, wanted, or topical. It's done its damage. Go away.
Oh don't worry Big John. Council talks economic development but they vote Expandable Plover Corral
on Linda Mar Beach. You got 3 new friends on council, boyo.
I wonder who typed this up and sent it in for him.
Probably Sneaky Pete, oh wait he doesn't use a computer either.
Ha! What we wouldn't give for a little "condo-mania" today.
if Pacifica does not own or maintain the land that was given to the GGNRA . . . explain to me why the city needs an OSC??
If Linda Mar Beach is a State Beach why does Pacifica maintain it?
That's an excellent question 1130AM. That management agreement with the state allowing Pacifica to manage the beach is from another era--although I think it's been renewed recently or soon to be. I'm sure council will keep that info very quiet. It was a more prosperous era or that was the illusion. Apparently Pacifica thought they needed the autonomy of running their own beach. Well we made expensive improvements but we ran it poorly. City hall wasn't even smart enough to install a few plover signs and control the dogs. They knew what was coming and they didn't act. So the beach grab is underway. Someone else will make sure we follow the rules from now on and the beach area available to the public will shrink year by year.
It's time to cut our losses and give this beach back to the state. Ditto for the costs we have assumed for the pier. Save money and put both under new and better management.
Curtis doesn't matter any more and insists on fighting old battles. He has never done anything for economic development other than mouth platitudes.
He has not supported any plan that has raised a dime in revenue or new jobs, other than maybe taxes. He has not attended a single meeting of the econ development committee.
The irony? 5.5 square miles of this town is open space, much of it inaccessible to hikers. None of it pays any property taxes--Pacific homeowners carry the load.
Whether Curtis matters anymore really doesn't matter. Meaningless. The damage has been done and it is irreparable. That land is gone, we are an isolated community with very little to recommend us to new business, visitors or new residents. Let's hope when we do collapse that we are able to recover as a better run
community.
Curtis bankrupted the city. And kept Mcdonalds in business
Has anyone actually seen John Curtis lately? I know he co-hosted Pete's retirement party up at Shelldance, but has there been a sighting?
He was spotted at Pak N Save.
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